MV Terra Alta: Difference between revisions
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | Terra Alta |
| Owner | Transmaçor |
| Operator | list error: <br /> list (help) 1944-1988: EATM 1988-2000: Transmaçor |
| Port of registry |  Portugal Horta |
| Builder | Manuel Joaquim Melo |
| Laid down | 20 April 1946 |
| Launched | 1947 |
| Christened | 1947 |
| Completed | 1947 |
| Acquired | 11 April 1949 |
| Maiden voyage | 1987 |
| Identification | IMO number: 8419922 |
| Fate | Standby |
| Status | Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 154.73 GT |
| Length | 30.33 m (99.5 ft) |
| Beam | 5.58 m (18.3 ft) |
| Draught | 2.83 m (9.3 ft) |
| Installed power | 365 horsepower |
| Propulsion | 2 Cummins |
| Crew | 5 |
The Terra Alta was a Portuguese motor yacht, constructed in the shipyards of Santo Amaro, the municipality of São Roque do Pico. It was a major ship that transported passenger and cargo in the waters of the central group of islands in the archipelago of the Azores, transformed from private hands into the fleet of Transmaçor. With a storied history, it had several incidents throughout the late 20th century, that eventually lead to it being broken-up and destroyed by the beginning of the 20th century.
History
On 20 April 1946, José Serpa Diogo ordered from Manuel Joaquim Melo in Santo Amaro the construction of the ship Terra Alta for 1400 contos.[1] In 1947, H-24-TL was launched, with a 30.33 metres (99.5 ft) length, 5.58 metres (18.3 ft) beam 2.83 metres (9.3 ft) draught and 154.73 tonnes ([convert: unknown unit]) gross weight, and with two 140 horsepower Alfa Romeo motors, permitting it to reach 12 miles per hour (19 km/h).[1]
Three years later, on 11 April 1949, José Diogo sold the ship, designated Terra Alta, to the Empresa Açoriana de Transportes Marítimos for the original purchase value.[1]
The newspapers of the period, O Telegrafo and Correio da Horta referred to Terra Alta as a modern ship, that transported 100 passengers, "magnificently installed becuase it was equipped with bunk beds for 16 people and upholstered benches for anyone and had a bar restaurant to provide food and drinks".[1]
In 1952, the Alfa Romeo motors were substituted for two 102 horsepower Deutz variants, and later (in 1960), for 150 horsepower Deutz motors.[1]
On 8 September 1955, after a stopover at the port of Velas (with a destination to Cais do Pico and Horta), the Terra Alta made an incorrect manoeuvre that resulted in it returning to port, unloading passengers, before sinking at dock.[1] After a rescue operation, it was towed to Horta, by the ship Cachalote and repaired.[1]
In the 1960s, the Terra Alta hit ground along the north coast of Pico, and sunk at the port of Madalena.[1]
On 21 July 1975, the ships suffered a fire while in the port of Horta, resulting in the damage to machine; the fire was rapidly fought by the Faialense fire-fighters and ships from Velas and bay of Velas.[1]
In October 1979, its motors were substituted by two 365 horsepower Cummins.[1]
In 1988 it was integrated into the fleet of Transmaçor and suffered further alterations.[1] It returned to the Pico-Faial Channel as a passenger ship, but it safety became an issue, owing to cargo and excessive passengers on its decks.[1]
Sent to Madalena in 1995, it effectively left service, and was dismantled on 3 June 2000 and burned.[1]
Reference
Notes
Sources
- Ribeiro, Fernando Faria (2007). Em Dias Passados: Figuras, Instituições e Acontecimentos da História Faialense (in Portuguese). Horta (Azores), Portugal: Nucleu Cultural da Horta.