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The 'Bessemer'
The ‘Bessemer’ was designed by Sir E.J. Read
on a principle invented by Henry Bessemer. It was hoped that
her unique hanging saloon measuring 70ft by 35ft would help
alleviate the effects of a rough sea and so ease seasickness.
The saloon would be worked by a hydraulic apparatus controlled
by one of the seamen, the complete structure resting on a
large rubber bed to prevent vibration. To ease docking at
Calais she was double ended in order to cut down on the manoeuvres
needed in harbour.
From the start the ship lacked speed, managing
only 11 knots instead of the promised 20. Her first crossing
to Calais was from Gravesend in April 1875 but on arrival
she smashed into the pier, damaging it and herself. On 4th
May the ‘Bessemer’ sailed from Dover for Calais, where she
again crashed into the pier causing further damage. On 8th
May there was a public trial trip to Calais and the crossing
was made in an impressive 90 minutes. Unfortunately, ‘Bessemer’
entered Calais as the tide was sweeping through the pierheads,
failed to answer the helm and demolished 50ft of the west
pier. On freeing herself she then crashed into the east pier.
Poor steering qualities and malfunctioning
of the swinging saloon caused the ‘Bessemer’ to be laid up
shortly afterwards. She was sold to a Hull shipbuilder, who
rebuilt her and removed the swinging saloon. Even with alterations
the ship was not a success and was sold for scrap in 1877.
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