Enchanté

Enchanté hotel barge on the Canal du Midi.
History
France
Name: Enchanté
Operator: European Waterways Ltd
Port of registry: Toulouse
Route:
Launched: 1958
Christened: Maria
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Commercial passenger vessel
Tonnage: 165
Length: 100 ft (30 m)
Beam: 17 ft (5.2 m)
Height: 10.5 ft (3.2 m)
Draught: 4.3 ft (1.3 m)
Decks: 3
Installed power: 2 × 380 volt diesel generators 30 kva and 19 kva
Propulsion: Single 280 horse power Cummins diesel engine. N855
Speed: Canal cruising speed 3 knots, Maximum speed 10 knots
Capacity: 8 passengers
Crew: 4 crew
Notes: Fuel capacity 4000 litres, Water capacity 8,000 litres, Used water capacity 4000 litres

The Enchanté (French: Nice to meet you, literally: 'enchanted') is a Belgian-built barge of the spits category, originally named Maria, converted into a hotel barge. She is one of around 50 luxury hotel barges operated on the French waterways, keeping alive the tradition of the boatmen (mariniers) who spent their lives carrying cargoes throughout the smaller waterways of France and Belgium and through to the Rhine.[1]

History

Enchanté was built in Oostkamp Belgium in 1958 as a trading barge, 39.50m in length. She carried grain, carbon, chemicals and other bulk goods. She was christened Maria and was renamed several times before finally being registered in France under the name Enchanté, in 2009. She is constructed of steel with a high carbon content, which was more common in pre-war barges. Although slightly more brittle, this type of steel has excellent anti-corrosion properties.

Enchanté was purchased by Roger and Louisa Gronow in 2008, for €65,000, still containing some sand from her final cargo. She was refitted for her new purpose in 2009, for a total of €500,000.[2]

After the plans were drawn up by the Parisian naval architects Technicarene,[3] Enchanté was transformed at the Chantier Naval de Meuse et Sambre[4] in Belgium in 2008/09. She was reduced to 30.00m in length, to suit the Canal du Midi, with its shorter locks and low curved bridges. She is one of only two Midi passenger barges with two interior decks.

Layout and accommodation

Enchanté has four guest bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a saloon, demonstration kitchen and jacuzzi for guests. Crew quarters are in the bow and stern.[5] The Enchanté has a crew of five: Captain, first mate/tour guide or matelot, chef, and two hostesses.

References

  1. ↑ Le Sueur, Bernard (2004). Mariniers: Tome 1, Histoire et mémoire de la batellerie artisanale. Douarnenez: Chasse-Marée Glénat. ISBN 2914208510.
  2. ↑ "A canal barge holiday in France provides a great incentive for a perfect break". MICEBTN Magazine. 10 (4): 65. November 2009.
  3. ↑ "Birth of the barge "Enchanted" (translated from French)". Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  4. ↑ "Le chantier naval Meuse & Sambre". Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  5. ↑ "Description of interior accommodation and equipment". Retrieved 24 November 2017.
Enchanté while under refurbishing on the Canal du Midi.

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