The ocean-going tug St Gilles was built in 1958 in La Rochelle(Charente-Maritime - France). This ship entered the Maritime Museum of La Rochelle on the 13th pf july 1989...She can be proud to have taken part in the launching of the steamer France in St Nazaire on May 11, 1960 and in the towing of the Tourville cruiser from Brest in Toulon in 1963.

Text writen according to the sayings of
Marcel Maingraud, mechanic chief.
Raymond Héligon, Captain
Jean-Claude Cabillic, Captain

« St Gilles is an ocean-going tug. She has been built in La Rochelle, La Pallice in 1958 by the shipyards Delmas Vieljeux. One cannot speak about St Gilles without evoking its first commander George Terrier who all marked us by his personality and his value. St Gilles sailed 30 years and finished her career in service in the Port of Pallice.[...]

[b]Characteristics of St Gilles[/b]
30 meters long, 7,80 broad, a small draught (3,80) what makes it possible to approach to the maximum the boats in difficulty at the coast. She has an engine of 1000 CV overfed of 25 % thanks to a turbo compressor. The propeller is provided with a directional Kort conduit which increases the traction of 25 A 30% and gives to the tug boat remarkable evolutionary qualities in particular in reverse gear. Power Indicated 1250 CV. St Gilles had a 18 day endurance on the way free with 58 tons of gas oil and 25 tons of water. She could drain, to fight against the fire, to supply out of water. This boat was very well designed by Mr. Jean Cabantous, engineer from La Rochelle. With a little experiment and ingeniousness, one managed to set up up to 5 different systems of drainings by making combinations from piping. St Gilles was also equipped with a monitor of fire which projected the water from 13 to 15 kg and a motor-driven pump of draining of 300 tons.

:idea: To learn more about her, visit: http://www.museemaritimelarochelle.fr/lieuVisite.php?idVisite=19