Artiglio
| {{Infobox ship begin|display title=Artiglio}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image=Artiglio.jpg | Ship caption=Artiglio II in 1932. }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header= | Ship name=Macbeth, Ideale, Artiglio | Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Italy|civil}} | Ship owner= Giovanni Quaglia | Ship operator=SO.RI.MA. (Society for Maritime Recovery) | Ship registry= | Ship route= | Ship ordered= | Ship builder= Mackie & Thomson, Govanhttps://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=12418&vessel=MACBETH | Ship original cost= | Ship yard number= 324 | Ship way number= | Ship laid down= | Ship launched= 07. February 1906 | Ship completed= | Ship christened= | Ship acquired= | Ship maiden voyage= | Ship in service= | Ship out of service=1930 | Ship identification= | Ship fate=Sunk in an explosion in 1930 | Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header= | Header caption= | Ship class= | Ship type= Steamship (salvage ship) | Ship tonnage=283.73 tons | Ship displacement= | Ship length={{convert|46.85|m|ft}} | Ship height= | Ship draught= | Ship draft= | Ship depth= | Ship decks= | Ship deck clearance= | Ship ramps= | Ship ice class= | Ship sail plan= | Ship power= | Ship propulsion= | Ship speed= | Ship capacity= | Ship crew= | Ship notes= }} |
The Artiglio ("Talon") was a steamship used as a salvage ship by the shipping company SO.RI.MA. (Society for Maritime Recovery) of Genoa, founded in 1926 by Commendatore Giovanni Quaglia. At the time of her loss in 1930, Artiglio was the world's most modern salvage ship.{{cite journal|journal=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,740833,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814051219/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,740833,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2009|date=22 December 1930|title=ITALY: Artiglio|access-date=14 October 2012}}
History
The Artiglio was built as a fishing boat in Glasgow in 1906.{{cite web |url= https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/11/11/the-shipwreck-detective |title=The Shipwreck Detective |date=November 4, 2024 |last=Knight |first=Sam |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20241106113634/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/11/11/the-shipwreck-detective |archive-date=November 6, 2024 |access-date=November 29, 2024 |publisher=The New Yorker}} It was initially named the Macbeth and later called the Ideale. It was the flagship of a small fleet which included the {{SS|Rostro|1917|2}}, Raffio and Arpione, outfitted in the twenties and used for the recovery of sunken ships mainly during the First World War and after the Second World War, and crewed by a group of experienced divers. The fleet was equipped with innovative equipment and futuristic at the time, thanks to the dynamism of its owner who bought the first modern and functional atmospheric diving suit, and the inventiveness of Alberto Gianni, known for inventing the portable on-board decompression chamber and the "torretta butoscopica", an exploration turret used for recoveries at great depth, then still too risky for divers using classic equipment.{{cite book|last=Tegani |first=Ulderico |title=Viaggi nel mondo sommerso |trans-title=Travel in the underwater world |language=it |publisher=Mondadori |location=Milan |year=1931 |url=http://www.okeanos.it/storia/hds_agianni.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012170817/http://www.okeanos.it/storia/hds_agianni.htm |archive-date=2008-10-12 }}{{cite book|title=Seventy Fathoms Deep|first=David|last=Scott|publisher=Faber & Faber Limited|location=London|year=1931}}{{cite book|title=The Egypt gold|first=David|last=Scott|publisher=Faber & Faber|location=London|year=1932}} The "Artiglio" had telephones that allowed divers to communicate with people on the surface.
The Artiglio in particular received much attention in international news when it was sent, on behalf of Lloyd's of London, to the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brest, France, in search of the ocean liner SS Egypt, flying the British flag, carrying a valuable cargo consisting of coins and gold bullion for the banks of India, then still a British colony. Following various sensational failures by other major English and Dutch recovery companies, the research and recovery contract was offered to SO.RI.MA. of Genoa. Head diver Alberto Gianni was in command of operations. The wreck of Egypt was identified on 29 August 1930 at a depth of -130m but the bad winter weather forced postponement of the recovery to the following spring. In the meantime, the Artiglio was sent to the island of Belle Île, in the northwest of France, to recover the {{SS|Florence H||2}}, which sank in 1917, carrying a large quantity of explosives, on the harbor front obstructing the passage.
During the demolition of Florence H., it was erroneously assumed that the explosive, submerged for more than 13 years, was not reactive. On 8 December 1930, as a result of a demolition charge, the payload inside the ship also exploded. The Artiglio, positioned by a fatal error of assessment at an insufficient distance, was destroyed by the explosion and sank in the Bay of Biscay between Belle Île and Houat, Morbihan, France. Twelve of the ship's nineteen crew members died in the accident,{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Salvage ship disaster |date=9 December 1930 |page=14 |issue=45691 |column=A |language=en}}{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Casualty reports |date=9 December 1930 |page=24 |issue=45691 |column=E |language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gianniroghi.it/Testi/l'europeo/5943%20.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218083220/http://www.gianniroghi.it/Testi/l'europeo/5943%20.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2013|last=Roghi|first=Gianni|title=DOPO TRENT’ANNI UN’INCHIESTA RIVELA I RETROSCENA DELLA FAVOLOSA IMPRESA|trans-title=Thirty years later, an investigation reveals behind the scenes of a fabulous business|language=it|access-date=14 October 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.agenziabozzo.it/vecchie_navi/B-Vapore/Navi_1850-1950_B438_nave_recuperi_ARTIGLIO_della_SORIMA_in_arrivo_a_Plymouth_1932.htm|title=nave recuperi ARTIGLIO in arrivo a Plymouth 1932|trans-title=Recovery ship ARTIGLIO arrives in Plymouth 1932|publisher=Agenzia Immobiliare Bozzo|language=it|access-date=14 October 2012}} including divers Alberto Gianni, Aristide Franceschi, and Alberto Bargellini, all from Viareggio,{{cite web|url=http://www.comune.viareggio.lu.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1262:artiglio&Itemid=161|title=I Palombari dell'Artiglio|trans-title= The Divers of the Artiglio|publisher=Comune di Viareggio|access-date=17 October 2012|language=it}} and the ship's commander, Captain Bertolotto di Camogli. The survivors were rescued by the Rostro.
''Artiglio II''
To retrieve the treasure of the Egypt, Commendatore Quaglia quickly outfitted a second ship, originally given the name Maurétanie, and renaming it Artiglio II; it was, however, soon generally called "Artiglio". With this ship, refitted and restored by the crew of SO.RI.MA., mostly equipped with recovered material from the Artiglio, thanks to inventions and organization left by Alberto Gianni, and in the face of enormous sacrifices on the part of the crew in stormy waters off the coast of Brest, all the treasure of the Egypt was finally recovered, largely made up of coins, bars and gold bullion as well as several bars of silver. The recovery occurred at a depth deemed impossible to reach at the time by divers, who used the famous "torretta butoscopica" invented by Gianni, dropped to -130 meters, to direct the work of buckets operated aboard the Artiglio. This event brought great prestige to Italy, the achievement being acclaimed worldwide by heads of state and government of the time.{{cite journal|journal=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,743932,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613192119/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,743932,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2008|date=4 July 1932|title=Science: Fortune from Neptune|access-date=14 October 2012}} Congratulations were sent from all over the world, including from George V (King of the United Kingdom), Benito Mussolini,{{Citation needed|date=October 2012}} and then-communications minister Costanzo Ciano.{{cite news|journal=Il Giornale|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/genova/lavventura_che_stupi_il_mondo/30-08-2006/articolo-id=115051-page=0-comments=1|title=L'avventura che stupi il mondo|trans-title=The adventure that astonished the world|date=30 August 2006|language=it|access-date=14 October 2012}}
Giovanni Quaglia
Commendatore Giovanni Quaglia, a man of great business ability and foresight, was the forerunner of all modern high depth naval activities and recovery diving operations. Thanks to him, all the oil companies and the naval forces of the world are also equipped with vehicles and equipment following the operating philosophy of the Artiglio and SO.RI.MA. which he founded and directed, a company with which he completed numerous salvage and maritime operations, and which thanks to its continued success was considered the best and most competitive at a global level. He was also the first Italian owner to set up a fleet of oil tankers. Unfortunately, he was also regarded as a person of few scruples and did not respect commitments with divers and crews that had earned both prestige and money, not bestowing awards and promised adequate compensation. With the complicity of the Fascist regime he managed to evade union demands by the maritime confederation.
Shortly after, she was engaged in the unsuccessful salvation attempts of the French submarine Prométhée, sunk on July 7, 1932 off Cherbourg.
David Scott
Aboard the Artiglio lived the journalist and writer David Scott, special correspondent for The Times of London, who promptly dispatched articles by radio. On the day of the sinking he was on land, but he was present during the campaign to recover the treasure of the Egypt, all the steps of which he described in detail. He was very close to the crew and later wrote several books on the events related to the company SO.RI.MA. that had considerable international success, thus helping to create the myth of the Italian divers. The books he wrote are an important reference point for enthusiasts and historians, because they are so numerous and provide detailed information about the historical events related to the world of Italian divers at that time.
Viareggio
In memory of the ship and the divers from the city of Viareggio, the Artiglio Europe Foundation was established in Viareggio. It bestows the International Artiglio Award on those who have distinguished themselves in the world of diving and the study and protection of the marine environment.{{cite web|url=http://www.artiglio.org/INGLESE/default.html |title=Artiglio Europa Fondazione Onlus |access-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723181951/http://www.artiglio.org/INGLESE/default.html |archive-date=23 July 2008 }} There is also a secondary school in Viareggio, the Istituto Tecnico Nautico Artiglio (Nautical State School "Artiglio"), which prepares students for careers in the Merchant Navy and as shipbuilders.{{cite web|url=http://www.nauticoartiglio.lu.it/eng/index_eng.htm|title=Nautical State School Artiglio|publisher=Istituto Tecnico Nautico Artiglio|date=26 August 2010|access-date=14 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501133445/http://www.nauticoartiglio.lu.it/eng/index_eng.htm|archive-date=1 May 2015|url-status=dead}} Since 1966, the city has operated the "club subacqueo Artiglio" ("Artiglio diving club"). The local maritime museum has a large section devoted to the actions of Viareggio divers and diving equipment made available by the club members.
Bibliography
- {{cite book|last=Tegani|first=Ulderico|title=Viaggi nel mondo sommerso|trans-title=Travel in the underwater world|year=1931|publisher=Mondadori|location=Milan|language=it}}
- {{cite book|last=Scott|first=David|title=Seventy Fathoms Deep|year=1931|publisher=Faber & Faber Ltd|location=London}}
- {{cite book|last=Scott|first=David|title=Con i palombari dell'Artiglio |trans-title=With the divers of the Artiglio|year=1931|publisher=Treves Treccani Tuminelli|language=it}}
- {{cite book|last=Scott|first=David|title=The Egypt Gold|year=1932|publisher=Faber & Faber Ltd|location=London}}
- {{cite book|last=Scott|first=David|title=L'Artiglio e l'oro dell'Egypt|trans-title=The Artiglio and the gold of the Egypt|year=1932|publisher=Mondadori|location=Milan|language=it}}
- {{cite book|last=Scott|first=David|title=The Egypt's Gold|year=1939|publisher=Penguin|location=London}}
- {{cite book|last=Micheli|first=Silvio|title= L'Artiglio ha confessato|year=1997|publisher=Mauro Baroni|language=it|isbn=88-8209-040-X}}
- {{cite book|last=Poddi|first=Stefano|title=L'avventura dell'Artiglio e le banconote di Hyderabad|date=October 2010|publisher=Cronanca Numismatica n. 233|language=it}}
See also
{{Portal|Transport}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |url=http://www.fondazioneartiglio.it/|title= The Artiglio foundation official web site}}
- {{cite web |url=https://www.toscanaovunquebella.it/en/viareggio/the-artiglio-tragedy-fire-in-the-hole|title=The Artiglio tragedy: "FIRE IN THE HOLE!"}}
- [http://lugnad.ie/italian-salvage-at-galley-head/ Italian Salvage Ships at the Galley Head ]
- [http://www.lookandlearn.com/blog/31247/the-sunken-p-o-liner-egypt-was-called-the-impossible-salvage/ The P & O Liner ‘Egypt’ was called “the impossible salvage”]
- [http://www.pandosnco.co.uk/egypt.html The SS Egypt of 1897]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140715014310/http://www.deepimage.co.uk/wrecks/egypt/egypt_mainpages/egypt_history.htm Egypt history on Deepimage.co.uk]
- {{cite web|url=http://www.agenziabozzo.it/vecchie_navi/B-Vapore/Navi_1850-1950_B018_Navi_recupero_ARTIGLIO_e_RAFFIO_davanti_al_porto_di_Camogli_1926.htm|title=Piroscafo Artiglio e Raffio - davanti a Camogli 1928 |trans-title=Steamship Artiglio and Raffio - in Camogli 1928|publisher=Agenzia Immobiliare Bozzo|language=it|access-date=16 October 2012}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.agenziabozzo.it/vecchie_navi/B-Vapore/Navi_1850-1950_B016_Nave_ARTIGLIO_durante_recupero_relitto_ss_Washington_Camogli_1926.htm|title=Piroscafo Artiglio 1926 - SORIMA - recupero 1926|trans-title=Steamship Artiglio 1926 - SORIMA - recovery 1926|publisher=Agenzia Immobiliare Bozzo|language=it|access-date=15 October 2012}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.agenziabozzo.it/vecchie_navi/B-Vapore/Navi_1850-1950_B438_nave_recuperi_ARTIGLIO_della_SORIMA_in_arrivo_a_Plymouth_1932.htm|title=nave recuperi ARTIGLIO in arrivo a Plymouth 1932|trans-title= Recovery ship ARTIGLIO arrives in Plymouth 1932|publisher=Agenzia Immobiliare Bozzo|language=it|access-date=15 October 2012}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.artiglio.org/INGLESE/default.html |title=Artiglio Europa Fondazione Onlus |access-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723181951/http://www.artiglio.org/INGLESE/default.html |archive-date=23 July 2008 }}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.comune.viareggio.lu.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1262:artiglio&Itemid=161|title=I Palombari dell'Artiglio|trans-title= The Divers of the Artiglio|publisher=Comune di Viareggio|access-date=17 October 2012|language=it}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.nauticoartiglio.lu.it/eng/index_eng.htm|title=Nautical State School Artiglio|publisher=Istituto Tecnico Nautico Artiglio|date=26 August 2010|access-date=14 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501133445/http://www.nauticoartiglio.lu.it/eng/index_eng.htm|archive-date=1 May 2015|url-status=dead}}
- {{cite news|journal=La Stampa|title=A DUE CHILOMETRI DALLA COSTA UN’ALTRA GROSSA NAVE LATINA IN ATTESA DEL RECUPERO - Albenga, si cominciò con 3 anfore romane - A due chilometri dalla costa un’altra grossa nave latina in attesa del recupero|last=Ravizza|first=Vittorio|date=17 August 2005|url=http://www.lastampa.it/nordovest/savona/05/08/museonavaleromano/default.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211142744/http://www.lastampa.it/nordovest/savona/05/08/museonavaleromano/default.asp|archive-date=11 December 2008|access-date=16 October 2012|language=it}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.gianniroghi.it/Testi/l'europeo/5943%20.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218083220/http://www.gianniroghi.it/Testi/l'europeo/5943%20.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2013|last=Roghi|first=Gianni|title=DOPO TRENT’ANNI UN’INCHIESTA RIVELA I RETROSCENA DELLA FAVOLOSA IMPRESA|trans-title=Thirty years later, an investigation reveals behind the scenes of a fabulous business|language=it|access-date=15 October 2012}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.deepimage.co.uk/wrecks/egypt/egypt_mainpages/egypt_mainpage.htm|title=SS Egypt Gold Shipwreck technical diving expeditions|last=Bishop|first=Leigh|author-link=Leigh Bishop|publisher=Leigh Bishop|access-date=14 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008050342/http://www.deepimage.co.uk/wrecks/egypt/egypt_mainpages/egypt_mainpage.htm|archive-date=8 October 2012|url-status=dead}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.modellistika.it/Articoli/Artiglio/Artiglio.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218101718/http://www.modellistika.it/Articoli/Artiglio/Artiglio.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2013|title=ARTIGLIO|language=it|access-date=15 October 2012}}
- {{cite news|journal=Il Giornale|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/genova/lavventura_che_stupi_il_mondo/30-08-2006/articolo-id=115051-page=0-comments=1|title=L'avventura che stupi il mondo |trans-title= The adventure that astonished the world|date=30 August 2006|language=it|access-date=14 October 2012}}
- {{cite journal|journal=Lega Navale|url=http://www.leganavale.it/portale/notiziario/07_07art5.pdf|title=La leggenda dell'Artiglio|trans-title= The legend of the Artiglio|language=it|date=July 2007|pages=19–24|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121002335/http://www.leganavale.it/portale/notiziario/07_07art5.pdf|archive-date=21 November 2008|access-date=14 October 2012}}
- {{citation |url=http://www.shippingwondersoftheworld.com/diving-million.html |chapter=Diving for £1,000,000 |title=Shipping Wonders of the World |year=1937 | pages=63–71 |editor-first=Clarence |editor-last=Winchester }} illustrated description of the salvage of the SS Egypt
{{coord missing|France}}
Category:Maritime incidents in 1930