The four lifes of Karthala This small coaster (39 m long, breadth, 7 m), pictured here in the port of Brest (France), was build in Gemany in 1937. Yes, 70 years ago ! First life : its name was Welle and it belonged to the German Navy. Second life : after World War II, the French seized it as spoils of war. For many years, she transported neutralized ammunitions found during the reconstruction of Brest. She was decommissionned in 1997. Third life : the cargo became a sand carrier. In 1995, it was layed up again. After ten year at anchor, a Breton bought her and made a lot of works. And Karthala (name of a volcano in Comorros) will start the fourth life of this ship. Soon, she’ll leave Brest for the coasts of West Africa where Karthala will do coastal navigation.

IMO number: 8434348 ; Gross tonnage: 183 ; Year of build: 1937 ; Flag: Comoros ; Owner and manager: BREIZH SHIPPING, Kingstown, ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES.