Diamant

[shipstamps]

The Diamant, was built in 1846 in the shipyard of Ditchburn and Mare, at Blackwall.
She made her maiden voyage on March 3, 1846 to open the Ostend-Dover cross-channel packet service.
She was a vessel of 335 gross tons and 1681/2ft. length.. Her engines of 850 h.p. were built by Maudslays and gave her a speed of 14 knots, the vessel making the crossing in five hours.
SG1176 Sea Breezes 5/50

[aukepalmhof]

She was the first paddle-steamer ordered by the Belgium Government for the service between Oostende and Dover.
Built 1845/46 by Ditchburn & Mare at Blackwall on the Thames.
Launched under the name CHEMIN DE FER.
Tonnage 252 gross (Belg. Measurement) 125 nrt., (Bureau Veritas)
Dim 51.40 x 6.40 x 2.16m.
Powered by a 600hp steam engine, manufactured by Maudsley, speed 12 knots.
Passenger accommodation around 70.

A passage between the two ports took about 5 hours.
04 March 1846 maiden voyage under command of Capt. Lt. de Vaisseau Claeys from the Belgium Navy.
That year she carried 4548 passengers.
From December 1847 until April 1848 engines and boilers refitted in 850hp, by Cockerill at Antwerp, speed 14 knots.
1852 (circa) renamed in DIAMANT.
August 1858 represented Belgium by the opening of a new dock at Cherbourg.
1867 Laid up.
1872 Sold to the French Government for the service between Calais and Dover.
1878 Laid up.
1885 Sold to F. Deschamps & Co. at Le Havre, France.
1889 or 1890 Laid up.
1890 Sold to a French banker at Cherbourg for a service between Le Havre to Deauville.
There were rumours that she has sailed for a short time under the name FRANCOIS I in the service between Honfleur and Le Havre.
1900 Laid up.
Shortly thereafter broken up.

Source: Mr. Urbain Ureel