Vercors (cable ship)
Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:25 pm
On the occasion of putting the SEA-ME-WE cable into use various countries issued stamps on 8th September 1986. Only 2 countries showed something of the ship, which laid 5 of the 7 parts of this telephone cable between Singapore and South France. The name of this cable is an abbreviation of South East Asia - Middle East - Western Europe.
The ship, which laid 16,588 nautical miles of this cable, was the French VERCORS. She laid Singapore -Indonesia in 1984, the parts Sri Lanka - Djibouti and Saudi Arabia - Egypt in 1985 and the pieces Egypt - Italy and Italy - South France in 1986.
She is to be seen at the vignette of the FDC issued by Djibouti and at the stamps and 1st Day cancellation of
Singapore. Though I had my doubts about the representation on those stamps and cancellation, Mr. Fouchard of Societe France Cable & Radio in Paris convinced me that that picture does represent the VERCORS. He told me these details and also pointed out the characteristic crane at the foredeck and the two masts to me, but he admitted that it was an "artist's impression".
The VERCORS was built by Soc. Nouvelle des At. & Ch. du Havre at Le Havre in 1973 and commissioned by Societe France Cable & Radio at Paris in 1974.
Brest became her home port.
Her dimensions are: 133.03m x 18.37m x 7.30m (dr) x 14.00m (d).
Her tonnage is 5886 gt, 1674 net and 11,212 dwt.
Her speed is 16.5 knots and she has a crew of 92 plus 22 cable technicians.
She was yard number 216.
The VERCORS has a diesel electric propulsion: 4 diesels of which 2 are of 5400 hp and 2 of 4000 hp with 4 generators of 1300 kw each connected to 2 electro motors and 2 screws. She also has 1 thw. thrust propeller fwd and 1 aft each with an engine of 750 hp.
She has been provided with 3 cable tanks: I: 13.90m x 4.50m (= 635 cubic m) and II and III: 15.30m x 5.20m (= 895 cubic m).
Piet Snijers Log Book July 1987.
Singapore SG535/38.
The ship, which laid 16,588 nautical miles of this cable, was the French VERCORS. She laid Singapore -Indonesia in 1984, the parts Sri Lanka - Djibouti and Saudi Arabia - Egypt in 1985 and the pieces Egypt - Italy and Italy - South France in 1986.
She is to be seen at the vignette of the FDC issued by Djibouti and at the stamps and 1st Day cancellation of
Singapore. Though I had my doubts about the representation on those stamps and cancellation, Mr. Fouchard of Societe France Cable & Radio in Paris convinced me that that picture does represent the VERCORS. He told me these details and also pointed out the characteristic crane at the foredeck and the two masts to me, but he admitted that it was an "artist's impression".
The VERCORS was built by Soc. Nouvelle des At. & Ch. du Havre at Le Havre in 1973 and commissioned by Societe France Cable & Radio at Paris in 1974.
Brest became her home port.
Her dimensions are: 133.03m x 18.37m x 7.30m (dr) x 14.00m (d).
Her tonnage is 5886 gt, 1674 net and 11,212 dwt.
Her speed is 16.5 knots and she has a crew of 92 plus 22 cable technicians.
She was yard number 216.
The VERCORS has a diesel electric propulsion: 4 diesels of which 2 are of 5400 hp and 2 of 4000 hp with 4 generators of 1300 kw each connected to 2 electro motors and 2 screws. She also has 1 thw. thrust propeller fwd and 1 aft each with an engine of 750 hp.
She has been provided with 3 cable tanks: I: 13.90m x 4.50m (= 635 cubic m) and II and III: 15.30m x 5.20m (= 895 cubic m).
Piet Snijers Log Book July 1987.
Singapore SG535/38.