Belem
Three-masted steel barque built in 1896 at Chantiers Dubigeon, Nantes, as the Belem for Denis Crovan & Co., Nantes.
Her dimensions are: 51,00×8,70×4,60 m and tonnage: 562 GRT.
- 1896
- Launched from A. Dubigeon, Nantes, for Denis Crovan & Co. who
later sold her to Société des Armateurs Coloniaux (H. Fleuriot &
Co.).
- 1914
- Purchased by the Duke of Westminster who had her converted into a
luxurious yacht and equipped with an aux. engine.
- 1922
- Bought by A.E. Guinness and renamed the Fantô.me II.
- 1951
- Bought by the Fondazione "Giorgio Cini" who converted her into a
barquentine for use a sail training ship and renamed her the Giorgio Cini.
- 1965
- Considered too old to continue as sailing schoolship and was
permanently moored at the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice.
- 1972
- Presented to the Carabinieri who begun reverting back to her
original barque rig. The refit proved too expensive and the ownership passed on
to the shipyard.
- 1979
- Returned to French ownership and renamed Belem.
- 1980 September
- Arrived in Brest and was moored in Paris for three
years.
Select Bibliograhy
- Brian H. Dolley: The Belem (1896).
The Mariner's Mirror Vol. 71, London, 1985. p 394-395, 446, ill.
- Schäuffelen, Otmar: Die letzten grossen Segelschiffe.
Delius Klasing, Bielefeld, 1973. 8vo, 280 pp, ill.
- Underhill, Harold A.: Sail Training and Cadet Ships.
Brown, Son & Ferguson, Glasgow, 1956. 8vo, xvi, 373 pp,