cargo ship VIRE

Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, 1947 - 1962 (en gérance)

Design features

Vire (liberty-ship) 1947 - 1962
hull material : ...................
previous name(s) of ship : ........David A. Curry
detailed type : ...................liberty-ship
type of propulsion : ..............1 propeller
building year of ship : ...........1944
name of shipyard : ................California Shipbuilding
place of construction : ...........Los Angeles
year of entering the fleet : ......1947
length (in meters) : ..............126,79
width (in meters) : ...............17,37
gross tonnage (in tons) : .........7278
deadweight (in tons) : ............10600
type of engine : ..................inverted, triple expansion 3 cylinders
engine power (in HP) : ............2500
nominal speed (in Knots) : ........11

History

11 cargo liners of the liberty-ship type were entrusted with management to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique before the conclusion of the Blum-Byrnes agreements of May 26, 1946. Following these agreements, the French Government acquired 75 liberty-ships, of which 21 in their turn were entrusted with management to Transat, which amounts their total to 32. The deliveries spread out until 1947. These ships were used, according to the needs, on the lines of the North Atlantic, of the West Indies, of the North Pacific or the South Pacific. Between 1957 and 1960, thirteen of them were especially equipped for transport of the Renault cars in the United States and were chartered by the Compagnie d’Affrêtement et de Transport (CAT), then sub company of Régie Renault. The first liberty-ship to leave the fleet of Compagnie Générale Transatlantique after the accident of GRANDCAMP in 1947 was SAINT VALERY in May 1948 and the last DOMFRONT and BAYEUX in 1965. The last of the liberty-ships "ex-Transat" to disappear was ARGENTAN, demolished in 1973. Built in 1944 under the name of DAVID A. CURRY on behalf of the U.S. Shipping War Administration. Delivered to the French Government in 1947. Renamed VIRE and entrusted with management to Compagnie Générale Transatlantique. In 1956, takes part in the Expedition of Suez. From 1959, is used to transport Renault cars to the United States. On November 18, 1959, takes aboard a record loading of 1181 cars. In May 1960, is laid up in Bassens, close to Bordeaux, then in Le Havre. Returned to the State in September 1962. In 1963, is sold to a Panamanian shipping company and renamed APOLLONIAN. In 1967, is resold to a Cypriot shipping company. Retains her name. Demolished in Shanghai in 1969.