SS Afrique (1907)
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | SS Afrique |
| Owner: | Compagnie des Chargeurs Réunis |
| Builder: | Swan Hunter, Wallsend |
| Yard number: | 801 |
| Launched: | 1907 |
| Homeport: | Le Havre |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | passenger ship |
| Tonnage: | 5,404 GRT |
| Length: | 390 feet 11 inches |
| Beam: | 48 feet |
| Propulsion: | 1x3-cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft, 2 screws |
| Speed: | 17.5 knots |
Afrique was a passenger ship of the French shipping company Compagnie des Chargeurs Réunis, which was put into service in 1907 and sank January 1920 with only 34 survivors of the 609 on board.
The final voyage
On 10 January 1920, in the early morning, Afrique, liner of the Compagnie des Chargeurs Réunis started its voyage on the Gironde channel with 609 people on board (crew and passengers). It headed for Dakar and the other ports of the French West Coast, its usual line. This was its 58th trip. It sank in the early hours of January 13, 1920, to the northeast edge of the Rochebonne plateau, less than 23 miles (42 km) from Olonne.
The Sinking
At about 11:58 pm on January 12, 1920, Afrique passed between Pierre Levée and the Plateau de Rochebonne. It lost engine power. The weather made it hard to repair the engines and it drifted onto a reef and got stuck. The weather made a gash in the hull and the Afrique started to sink. Because of the terrible weather ships that answered the distress calls couldn't help. On January 13, 1920 at 3 o'clock, Afrique lost all contact with other ships and soon after sank. Only 34 survivors were collected of 135 crew and 474 passengers.
Sources
http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?132499
http://www.maritimequest.com/daily_event_archive/2006/jan/12_ss_afrique.htm