Author Topic: La Ciotat  (Read 1922 times)

Offline pieter melissen

  • Webmaster
  • Top Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 669
    • View Profile
    • ultimatecarpage.com
La Ciotat
« on: October 08, 2015, 05:07:27 PM »
For all those with a long memory the Ciotat Shipyard, in the town with the same name at the Cote d'Azur should sound pretty familiar.
We went there last week and without knowing what to expect, we found that in the old main office building, apart from all sorts of boutiques and restaurants, some enthusiasts are maintaining a shop with all kinds of memorabilia from the yard (which delivered its last commercial ship in 1987) There is a large model of the yard showing all its aspects in the final stages of its operation. The slipways were rather hampered by the port layout, and when a launching took place, all quays at the opposite end of the harbour basin were cleared of people.
The very generous shop people showed us a short film with some lauching highlights and not everytime cars and people had moved enough to not be inundated. Very spectular images, which resemble the sideways launching in Groningen.

It is an advantage when you can speak a little French but it is certainly worth while going there. A book with a complete illustrated list of all ships built at the yard is available and costs only 10 Euro.

The yard is still operational and specialising in the repair of larger yachts of which quite a few were lying along the repair quays, and in the large graving dock, which is no longer functional.
« Last Edit: October 08, 2015, 05:09:28 PM by pieter melissen »

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk