liner VILLE DE SAINT-NAZAIRE

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1871 - 1897

Design features

Ville de Saint-Nazaire (cargo-passenger ship) 1871 - 1897
hull material : ...................iron
previous name(s) of ship : ........
detailed type : ...................cargo-passenger ship
type of propulsion : ..............2 propellers
building year of ship : ...........1871
name of shipyard : ................Chantiers de l'Océan
place of construction : ...........Bordeaux
year of entering the fleet : ......1871
length (in meters) : ..............88,50
width (in meters) : ...............12,33
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........2676
deadweight (in tons) : ............1360
type of engine : ..................2 compound 4 cylinders 2 superposed
engine power (in HP) : ............2600
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........12,5

History

First of a series of 3 steamers built to serve the Saint-Nazaire-Colon-Valparaiso line. Stem with ram. Sisterships : VILLE DE BORDEAUX (1871) and VILLE DE BREST (1871) Put in service in January 1871 on the line of Mexico. Assigned in January 1872 to the line of Valparaiso. The line is closed in 1874. Is completely transformed into 1874-75. Ram removed. In January 1876, is assigned to the line of Colon. In 1879-80, receives new boilers then is assigned temporarily on the lines of North Africa. Returns on the line of Mexico in June 1882. Also serves Colon. From September 1886 to September 1888, after a new Mediterranean interlude of a few months, is assigned to the line of Haïti. At the end of 1888, receives new boilers, after which she again serves North Africa during 4 years, of 1891 to 1895. In February 1895, is chartered by the State to transport convicts to Cayenne. Among those, appears the captain Dreyfus. Returns on the line of Colon in April 1895 then is used like stationary in the West Indies. March 6, 1897, during a trip between New York and the West Indies, a water leak is discovered and worsens under the effect of a storm. The ship is abandoned. On 83 passengers and members of crew, 4 will be rescued on March 13 by the American schooner HILDA (?) and 14 others by British steamer YANARIVA.