Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
So pleased you are making some headway. That was a brilliant idea to write to the navy about her. Think you are right, she must have been cut down to a schooner and motor fitted prior to that. Anyway, best of luck with your no doubt continuing research.
Cheers, Nerys.
Cheers, Nerys.
When the winds before the rain, soon you may make sail again, but when the rain's before the wind, tops'l sheets and halyards mind
Liked by Martin555
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Hi Doug,
Thank you for the wishes. They may have helped a bit 😊.
As an update to all -
I received a short mail from my contact in Italy. The Maria Serra is referred in a book dealing with the history of the Navy in Italy. The most interesting added information is the fact that the Maria Serra was requisitioned by the Regia Marina (name of the Navy of Italy up to 1946) in 1940 and used as a minesweeper until 1943.
It is described as a motor_sail schooner probably because the motor was added ( as suggested by Nerys) in 1925 when purchased by the coal company. Its description as a schooner suggest that at the time of the requisition (in 1940) she was already with only 2 masts (thus a schooner) and had a small motor installed thus able to do some mine sweeping.
This is becoming interesting.
Have a good week-end. Daniel
Thank you for the wishes. They may have helped a bit 😊.
As an update to all -
I received a short mail from my contact in Italy. The Maria Serra is referred in a book dealing with the history of the Navy in Italy. The most interesting added information is the fact that the Maria Serra was requisitioned by the Regia Marina (name of the Navy of Italy up to 1946) in 1940 and used as a minesweeper until 1943.
It is described as a motor_sail schooner probably because the motor was added ( as suggested by Nerys) in 1925 when purchased by the coal company. Its description as a schooner suggest that at the time of the requisition (in 1940) she was already with only 2 masts (thus a schooner) and had a small motor installed thus able to do some mine sweeping.
This is becoming interesting.
Have a good week-end. Daniel
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
You may be right Nerys, on all points.
As a short update: I did received a cheerful reply from the Founder & Curator of the Italian Museum I turned to. He did present "the doubt that one can still find the drawing or picture of the vessel". Yet he knew the Serra family (the builder of the ship) and promised to try and help me out.
So this leaves me with some hopes. Small as those may be, still hopes and I wanted to share this with you.
All the best
As a short update: I did received a cheerful reply from the Founder & Curator of the Italian Museum I turned to. He did present "the doubt that one can still find the drawing or picture of the vessel". Yet he knew the Serra family (the builder of the ship) and promised to try and help me out.
So this leaves me with some hopes. Small as those may be, still hopes and I wanted to share this with you.
All the best
Liked by Martin555 and RNinMunich
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Do you know Daniel, I think delving into the history of particularly small ships is one of the most intriguing studies one can have. I've been involved for a good many years now and never regretted a moment. Best of luck with your investigation of the Maria Serra, I'm sure you will never regret the time you will inevitably spend on it.
All the best, Nerys
All the best, Nerys
When the winds before the rain, soon you may make sail again, but when the rain's before the wind, tops'l sheets and halyards mind
Liked by Martin555 and RNinMunich and
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Hi Daniel,
Based on when she was built, I doubt very much that it was intended to fit an auxiliary immediately, but I expect when they did, removal of the mizzen would have been part of the plan. I would imagine that very little would have been done to ready her for carrying that many passengers. I would guess that they would more or less been herded into empty holds with the most rudimentary facilities.
All the best, Nerys
Based on when she was built, I doubt very much that it was intended to fit an auxiliary immediately, but I expect when they did, removal of the mizzen would have been part of the plan. I would imagine that very little would have been done to ready her for carrying that many passengers. I would guess that they would more or less been herded into empty holds with the most rudimentary facilities.
All the best, Nerys
When the winds before the rain, soon you may make sail again, but when the rain's before the wind, tops'l sheets and halyards mind
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Hi Nerys,
Sure, I am aware of the time and effort I invest in this. Agreed, this is quite interesting. While at it I realized that the history of ships are mostly connected to the events she was involved in and the people that toke part in those events (I think there are numerous examples). Yet the details about building, adapting to changes, repairs etc. - namely some technical history, is seldom told. In this case I am interested to understand why the mizzen was removed? Was the auxiliary engine part of the original design or added at a later stage? How was the ship adapted to coal transport and mostly how was it adapted to take 604 survivor (men, women, children etc.) for a two weeks trip?
I lately turned to a Museum in Italy, where there is a beautiful model of the Fidente (a 3-masted barquentine), for some lead in hope of interesting information. I promise to update after it reaches me. I might share some of the frustration 😊.
As to your suggestions - I will have a look at all of them in hope to find a ship as similar as can be. In the end the overall look and mostly the external details are those that will remind the original.
All the best Daniel
Sure, I am aware of the time and effort I invest in this. Agreed, this is quite interesting. While at it I realized that the history of ships are mostly connected to the events she was involved in and the people that toke part in those events (I think there are numerous examples). Yet the details about building, adapting to changes, repairs etc. - namely some technical history, is seldom told. In this case I am interested to understand why the mizzen was removed? Was the auxiliary engine part of the original design or added at a later stage? How was the ship adapted to coal transport and mostly how was it adapted to take 604 survivor (men, women, children etc.) for a two weeks trip?
I lately turned to a Museum in Italy, where there is a beautiful model of the Fidente (a 3-masted barquentine), for some lead in hope of interesting information. I promise to update after it reaches me. I might share some of the frustration 😊.
As to your suggestions - I will have a look at all of them in hope to find a ship as similar as can be. In the end the overall look and mostly the external details are those that will remind the original.
All the best Daniel
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Hi Daniel,
It's a very interesting project trying to work out the history, the whys and wherefores of little known ships. It can be a lot of work and can become quite frustrating, but I wish you all success in this entire project whether it is the history of the ship or the building of the model. Will you build the full sailing version or the auxiliary? As a matter of interest a number of wooden barquentines were built around the Thames Estuary, late 19th C and early 20th. Howard of Maldon comes to mind and several of the ship builders of Faversham and Sittingbourne. 'The Big Barges' by Hervey Benham and Roger Finch is a book that could be of interest.
Best of luck, Nerys
It's a very interesting project trying to work out the history, the whys and wherefores of little known ships. It can be a lot of work and can become quite frustrating, but I wish you all success in this entire project whether it is the history of the ship or the building of the model. Will you build the full sailing version or the auxiliary? As a matter of interest a number of wooden barquentines were built around the Thames Estuary, late 19th C and early 20th. Howard of Maldon comes to mind and several of the ship builders of Faversham and Sittingbourne. 'The Big Barges' by Hervey Benham and Roger Finch is a book that could be of interest.
Best of luck, Nerys
When the winds before the rain, soon you may make sail again, but when the rain's before the wind, tops'l sheets and halyards mind
Liked by Martin555
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Hi Nerys,
You are absolutely right.
For me the fact that the mizzen was removed followed from the answer of Lloyd’s. I assumed Lloyd’s has it's database right and the picture of a two masted barquentine would mean that a mast had been removed. From an historical point I still wonder who did the change and why.
From the historical data, and my father in-law stories, there was an auxiliary engine installed. The installation of an auxiliary engine at a later stage might explain the removal of the mizzen. Since (just to add some info) she was bought by an Italian coal import company in 1925 and served as a merchant ship to transport coal. Maybe the alteration where done then.
Thanks for the remark and wishes.
Enjoy the weekend.
Daniel
You are absolutely right.
For me the fact that the mizzen was removed followed from the answer of Lloyd’s. I assumed Lloyd’s has it's database right and the picture of a two masted barquentine would mean that a mast had been removed. From an historical point I still wonder who did the change and why.
From the historical data, and my father in-law stories, there was an auxiliary engine installed. The installation of an auxiliary engine at a later stage might explain the removal of the mizzen. Since (just to add some info) she was bought by an Italian coal import company in 1925 and served as a merchant ship to transport coal. Maybe the alteration where done then.
Thanks for the remark and wishes.
Enjoy the weekend.
Daniel
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
The photo gives me the impression that an auxiliary engine has been installed and the mizzen removed. However that shouldn't affect any plans that you may come across. Best of luck with your quest.
Cheers, Nerys
Cheers, Nerys
When the winds before the rain, soon you may make sail again, but when the rain's before the wind, tops'l sheets and halyards mind
Liked by Scratchbuilder and Martin555
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Hi Martin,
Yes I did.
I even downloaded the plans of the "Fidente".
Thanks to your reminder, I re-looked at the plans of the Fidente. The details are a bit different - namely the Fidente is shorter and probably wider since its tonnage is about 12% higher.
Yet, on close look I found on the plans the stamp of Museo Marinaro "Tommasino - Andreatta". This might be a good lead for additional information.
Thank you,
All the best,
Daniel
Yes I did.
I even downloaded the plans of the "Fidente".
Thanks to your reminder, I re-looked at the plans of the Fidente. The details are a bit different - namely the Fidente is shorter and probably wider since its tonnage is about 12% higher.
Yet, on close look I found on the plans the stamp of Museo Marinaro "Tommasino - Andreatta". This might be a good lead for additional information.
Thank you,
All the best,
Daniel
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Hi Daniel,
I assume you have already looked under
"barquentine model plans" on the net as there seems to be quite a few.
Martin555.
I assume you have already looked under
"barquentine model plans" on the net as there seems to be quite a few.
Martin555.
If it looks right it probably is.
Liked by Scratchbuilder and Nerys
Maria Serra wooden barquentine
Hi All,
My interest in boat modeling is keen and a long-lasting dream I found, at last, the appropriate time to try and fulfill.
I turn to you all in hope for some help. My goal is to build a model replica of a wooden auxiliary barquentine, as close as possible to the one built in 1920 by the shipyard (Cantiery) Francesco Serra, San Bartolomeo, Italy as a wooden barquentine of 349 tons, 130’5 length overall and registered under the name "Maria Serra", in Savona, Italy.
A personal note: On July 31st. 1946 the ship left Bocca di Magra (a small port in the estuary of the river Magra) toward Palestine with 604 Shoah survivors, two of them my in-laws. I made a kind of personal promise to try and built a replica in their memory. Toward this voyage the Maria Serra was renamed "Katriel Yoffe"
Research: I received most of the practical information I have from the Heritage & Education Center of Lloyd’s Register Foundation. I turned to additional available sources and even tried to contact Registro Italiano Navale (RINA), where the ship was classified and registered in Savona, Italy with Official Number 87 (got no reply).
I attach a picture and have some additional historical info to be provided latter on.
Your help: I continue in my quest toward finding some plans of this ship specifically. If there are any plans available I do hope to access them. Your input toward this would be of great help. I would appreciate any ideas.
I also wonder if there are plans of similar (early 20th century) wooden barquentine and if so where? Who to contact?
I do hope I succeeded to raise some interest.
Daniel
My interest in boat modeling is keen and a long-lasting dream I found, at last, the appropriate time to try and fulfill.
I turn to you all in hope for some help. My goal is to build a model replica of a wooden auxiliary barquentine, as close as possible to the one built in 1920 by the shipyard (Cantiery) Francesco Serra, San Bartolomeo, Italy as a wooden barquentine of 349 tons, 130’5 length overall and registered under the name "Maria Serra", in Savona, Italy.
A personal note: On July 31st. 1946 the ship left Bocca di Magra (a small port in the estuary of the river Magra) toward Palestine with 604 Shoah survivors, two of them my in-laws. I made a kind of personal promise to try and built a replica in their memory. Toward this voyage the Maria Serra was renamed "Katriel Yoffe"
Research: I received most of the practical information I have from the Heritage & Education Center of Lloyd’s Register Foundation. I turned to additional available sources and even tried to contact Registro Italiano Navale (RINA), where the ship was classified and registered in Savona, Italy with Official Number 87 (got no reply).
I attach a picture and have some additional historical info to be provided latter on.
Your help: I continue in my quest toward finding some plans of this ship specifically. If there are any plans available I do hope to access them. Your input toward this would be of great help. I would appreciate any ideas.
I also wonder if there are plans of similar (early 20th century) wooden barquentine and if so where? Who to contact?
I do hope I succeeded to raise some interest.
Daniel
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