Salvador and Nicarao

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Salvador and Nicarao

Post by shipstamps » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:50 pm



In 1951 however the Mamenic Line became the subject of international discussion. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development sent out from Washington a mission to Nicaragua in July 1951. It remained until May 1952 and its report makes interesting reading. Referring to shipping it says: "From time to time there has been a good deal of talk, even some preliminary discussions, about the advisability of a Nicaraguan merchant marine. It might be argued that the Mamenic fleet ought to be enlarged for deep sea transport between Nicaragua and the overseas world. If this argument is taken to imply that part of the necessary financing should be by the State this mission dissents.
"Nicaragua's overseas trade is much too small, in our opinion, to create a Nicaraguan fleet. We do not believe that Nicaragua ought to refrain from the creation of a large merchant marine in any and all circumstances. We believe that a plausible case can be made for the eventual creation by Nicaragua jointly with other Central American countries, of a regional fleet, similar to the Grancolombia fleet of Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. To date, however, no definite plans have emerged or are in sight."
Less than a year later the first of a fleet of small, but modern, deep sea motorships was delivered to the Mamenic Line. General Anastasio Somoza, President of Nicaragua and founder of the modern national fleet, did not let the grass grow under his feet. The first vessel, ordered from Finnboda Varf, of Stockholm, was the El Salvador, (featured on the 10 cents stamp, which incidentally omits the "El " from the ship's name). This was followed by a similar ship, the Managua (25 cents stamp) from the same builders in. 1954.
These motorships are of the open shelter deck type with four hatch-ways, one of which is 55ft. long to facilitate loading of coaches and similar bulky cargo. Their principal dimensions are as follows: Length 357.8ft. ; 330ft. between perpendiculars ; moulded beam 47ft. moulded depth to shelter deck 27ft. loin. ; summer draft 19ft. 5in. Gross tonnage of the El Salvador is 2,440 and that of the Managua 2,561 tons. A 9-cylinder Fiat 2-stroke, single-acting engine is installed in each vessel, developing 3,250 s.h.p. at 160 r.p.m., giving a speed of about 16'/2 knots. SG1303, 1310

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