LA TRAGEDIE DU ROMULUS |
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La tragédie du Romulus (15/12/1969) - La nuit du "Titan" Vendredi 12 décembre 1969, le vieux minéralier ROMULUS, construit en 1942 en tant que M/S MALMLAND, se présente devant Bayonne pour décharger 8435 tonnes de phosphates à Tarnos, mais doit attendre la marée pour entrer au port. Le samedi matin 13/12/1969, le pilote monte à bord mais la machine ne démarre pas. C'est la panne! Le temps est au beau, le Capitaine Mazzolini décide d'entreprendre la réparation, avec l'accord de son armateur. Le dimanche, la tempête se lève. La réparation n'est pas terminée. Le lundi soir, l'incident se transforme en tragédie. Le Romulus chasse sur ses ancres, dérive et heurte la jetée Nord. Il se brise en trois morceaux. Le Capitaine Mazzolini et quatre hommes d'équipage sont emportés par une énorme vague. Les vingt et un autres membres d'équipage trouvent refuge dans la cheminée, à l'arrière du navire. Un groupe d'hommes courageux va les sauver avec l'assistance de l'énorme grue "Titan" qui a été utilisée pour construire la Jetée en 1963. (Julien Miniconi, Georges Labro, Jean Lissardi, et d'autres héros...). Ils vont au risque de leur vie sauver les vingt et un marins de l'épave du Romulus. |
Tragedy of the Romulus (15/12/1969) - The Night of the "Titan" Friday December 12, 1969 , the old bulk carrier ROMULUS, built in 1942 as M/S MALMLAND, arrives off the port of Bayonne to unload 8435 tons of phosphates at the Tarnos docks, but she has to wait for the tide to enter the port. On Saturday morning 13.12.1969, the pilot embarks but the engine refuses to start. There is a major engine breakdown! The weather is good, and Captain Mazzolini decides to repair the engine at sea, with permission of his company. On Sunday, a severe storm rises. Repairs are not complete. On Monday evening, the incident turns to a tragedy. The ROMULUS drags her anchor, drifts and hits the north jetty. Soon the ship breaks in three pieces. Captain Mazzolini and four other crew members are swept from the bridge by a huge wave. The other twenty one crew members takes refuge in the funnel, at the aft part of the ROMULUS. A group of brave men will save them with the assistance of the enormous crane "Titan" which was used to build the jetty in 1963. (Julien Miniconi, Georges Labro, Jean Lissardi, and other heroes...). With the risk of their life, they will save the twenty one sailors from the wreck of the ROMULUS. |
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1963. Building of the 1000 meters long north dike at the entrance of the Bayonne port. Photo 1 from my private collection - Photo 2 : Daniel Villafruela
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The north dike where the ROMULUS will get wrecked and the crane "TITAN", used to build it. |
ROMULUS was used to call Bayonne for a long time, even under her original name MALMLAND |
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Here is she in Bayone again, under her French name ILE GRANDE in 1967. |
Last photo of the ROMULUS, close to touch the end of the dike. Seen from the semaphore tower. |
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The wreck of the ROMULUS, the day after the shipwreck. The sea is still rough and the funnel, where the crew took refuge is often covered by waves. |
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Left : drawing of the salvage operation. Julien Miniconi, firefighter for the SNPA climbed on the hoist of the crane TITAN. He helps one of the crew members to climb with him. He will hold the man until he is able to land on the dike. Above : Julien Miniconi (center) whith the crew members of the ROMULUS he saved one by one, during this terrible and dramatic night. |
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Another part of the romulus after the shipwreck |
Propeller of the ROMULUS, you can see in front of the CCI (Commerce and Industry Chamber). |
All pictures come from my private collection. |
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ROMULUS : Bulk Carrier, IMO : 5158735, built in 1942 as MALMLAND by Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstad AB, Göteborg (Sweeden), 146,48 x 18,60 x 10,51 m, DWT : 12620 T, Gross : 8673, Ex : MALMLAND (1942-1962) - ILE GRANDE (1962-1967) - ROMULUS (1967-1969) - Wrecked in Bayonne 15-12-1969 |
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