Historic Steam Ship

Historic Steam Ship

Don\'t miss out this unique opportunity to purchase a finely restored historic Steam Ship! Now with a reduced price at only 375.000 €.

Until the end of the twentieth century, many small companies furnished all sorts of services to the port of Vigo in Northwestern Spain. Among them was the water-supply company that owned the transport ship “Hidria Segundo”. This ship was propelled by a huge steam engine, built in Valencia in 1901, and which had already worked in the first “Hidria”, which was scrapped when the second boat with this name was built in 1966. The steam engine was so strong that the “Hidria Segundo” was eventually used as a towing ship, in addition to her original function of water transporter.

In more recent years, when diesel engines definitively dominated shipping, the “Hidria Segundo” still used her steam engine, thus achieving fame among the lovers of this type of engine. She genuinely evoked a bygone era.

In 1997, “Hidria Segundo” was deleted from the Spanish merchant-shipping registry, and her current owners purchased the hull and steam engine. They faithfully restored the entire vessel with almost all new planks, frames, and a complete new iroko deck and interior. The restoration of this vessel has been the most extensive project of this nature ever done in Spain on an original steam engine. A new wheelhouse and a large hatch on the center of the main deck were installed. Below deck new floors were installed, a library lounge to the port side of the former cargo department with much natural light, and other necessary structural elements and equipment were installed, such as bulkheads, a 220/24 volt electrical system, plumbing, fire extinguishing system, water, diesel and holding tanks.

From the outset, the vessel was equipment to carry passengers. She has the permits to carry 120 passengers at sea and 140 passengers in port. To obtain these permits, many requirements had to be met, including conducting stability tests with the steam engine running at full capacity. No expense was spared to make her – including the engine – fit for another hundred years of navigation!

This extensive restoration was finished in 2005, and “Hidria Segundo” began working in the passenger and tourist trade along the bay and surrounding waters of Vigo. She also participated in a number of tall ship gatherings in France and in Spain. Wherever she went, she was greeted with interest and enthusiasm for her strong construction and beautifully restored and well-functioning steam engine. Indeed, this engine is still today her only propulsion.

In 2008, “Hidria Segundo” sailed to the Mediterranean, and is now based in the south of Alicante, on the Spanish Mediterranean mainland, very close to Alicante international airport. This makes it easy for any interested party to visit and inspect the ship. 

The \"Hidria Segundo\" is featured in many publications, among them in the book \"Los últimos grandes veleros españoles\", Agualarga, Madrid 2004, pp. 36-43, with many photos and a complete report about her restoration.

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