TUDOR VLADIMIRESCU paddle steamer

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aukepalmhof
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TUDOR VLADIMIRESCU paddle steamer

Post by aukepalmhof » Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:38 pm

This stamp shows in the foreground the passenger vessel TUDOR VLADIMIRESCU, with on the background on the banks of the Danube River the town Tulcea.

Built in 1854 on the Altofen yard at Budapest for the DDSG as a tug.
It was long believed that she had been built in 1874, and this is stated on the builders plate, but research shows her to have been built in 1854. She is now the oldest passenger steamer in the world.
Launched under the name CROATIE.
Original powered by a 520hp oscillating steam engine. The engine was replaced in 1867 by a compound steam engine, manufactured by Escher Wyss, Zurich with a power of 600hp.

1918 Given to Romania as war reparations.
1919 Passed she in the hands of Romanian Fluvial Navigation (NFR).
Rebuilt in a passenger vessel at the Turnu Severin Shipyard (now Severnav) and renamed SARMISEGETUSA, named after the ancient capital of Dacia.
Used in the passenger service between Braila and Sulina.
1923 Renamed in GRIGORE MANU, named in honour of a politician heavily involved in the development of Romanian navigation.
She received her present name TUDOR VLADIMIRESCU shortly after the Communist Party took power, referring to the leader of the 1821 revolution against the Ottomans, Tudor Vladimirescu.
Completely rebuilt at the Orsava Shipyard in the late 1950s, only her hull, engine and the paddles of the paddle-steamer are original.
In later years used for luxury day-cruises for tourists in the Danube delta.

Since the early 1990s laid up with minimal maintenances, and currently in a very poor condition.
Early 2000 is she at the Galati Damen Shipyard and have been gutted in preparation for a refit, although funds have now dried up and all work has stopped for the moment and she was laid up at Chiciu.
Between September 2002 and August 2003 the vessel was rebuilt both in Galati and at the Aker Shipyard in Braila.

Now mostly used by Romanian Government meetings, but makes also day trips between Galati and Braila.

Under the name TUDOR VLADIMIRESCU was she managed by NAVROM, and her dimensions now are given as 65.8 x 8.0/14.4 x 2.9m., draught 1.7m.
Could carry 391 passengers.

Romania 1981 1.50lei sg4622, scott2997

Source http://www.danube-research.com/TVlad.html Steam Ships of Europa by Alistair Deayton.
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