Enchanté
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Enchante hotel barge 1.jpg | Ship caption = Enchanté hotel barge on the Canal du Midi. }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = France | Ship flag = 50px | Ship name = Enchanté | Ship owner = European Waterways Ltd | Ship operator = European Waterways Ltd | Ship registry = Toulouse | Ship route = *Canal du Midi - Béziers to Homps | Ship ordered = | Ship builder = | Ship yard number = | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = | Ship launched = 1958 | Ship christened = Maria | Ship completed = | Ship acquired = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship fate = | Ship status = In service | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Commercial passenger vessel | Ship tonnage = 165 | Ship displacement = | Ship length = {{convert|100|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|17|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship height = {{convert|10.5|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|4.3|ft|m|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship decks = 3 | Ship ice class = | Ship power = 2 × 380 volt diesel generators 30 kva and 19 kva | Ship propulsion = Single 280 horse power Cummins diesel engine. N855 | Ship sail plan = | Ship speed = Canal cruising speed 3 knots, Maximum speed 10 knots | Ship capacity = 8 passengers | Ship crew = 4 crew | Ship notes = Fuel capacity 4000 litres, Water capacity 8,000 litres, Used water capacity 4000 litres }} |
Enchanté ({{langx|fr|Nice to meet you, literally: 'enchanted'}}) is a Belgian-built barge of the spits category, originally named Maria, converted into a hotel barge. She is one of around 50 hotel barges operating on the French waterways.{{Cite book|title=Mariniers: Tome 1, Histoire et mémoire de la batellerie artisanale|last=Le Sueur|first=Bernard|publisher=Chasse-Marée Glénat|year=2004|isbn=2914208510|location=Douarnenez}}
History
Enchanté was built in Oostkamp Belgium in 1958 as a trading barge, 39.50m in length. She carried grain, carbon, chemicals and other bulk goods. She was christened Maria and was renamed several times before finally being registered in France under the name Enchanté, in 2009. She is constructed of steel with a high carbon content, which was more common in pre-war barges. Although slightly more brittle, this type of steel has excellent anti-corrosion properties.
Enchanté was refitted for her new purpose in 2009, for a total of €500,000.{{cite journal |year=November 2009 |title=A canal barge holiday in France provides a great incentive for a perfect break. |journal=MICEBTN Magazine |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=65 }}
After the plans were drawn up by the Parisian naval architects Technicarene,{{cite web |title=Birth of the barge "Enchanted" (translated from French) |url=https://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fluvialnet.com%2Fmurmures-actualites-naissance-de-la--peniche-enchante%2F5619&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8 |accessdate=11 January 2010}} Enchanté was transformed at the Chantier Naval de Meuse et Sambre{{cite web |title=Le chantier naval Meuse & Sambre |url=http://www.meusam.com/index.php?the_transformation_of_boats&s=7&rs=home&lg=en |accessdate=11 January 2010}} in Belgium in 2008/09. She was reduced to 30.00m in length, to suit the Canal du Midi, with its shorter locks and low curved bridges. She is one of only two Midi passenger barges with two interior decks.
Layout and accommodation
Enchanté has four guest bedrooms, a saloon, demonstration kitchen and Jacuzzi for guests. Crew quarters are in the bow and stern.{{cite web|url=https://www.french-waterways.com/boats/enchante/|title=Description of interior accommodation and equipment|accessdate=24 November 2017}} The Enchanté has a crew of five: Captain, first mate/tour guide or matelot, chef, and two hostesses.
External links
- Owner's website - [https://www.europeanwaterways.com/fleet/enchante/ www.europeanwaterways.com]
- [https://www.beerandcroissants.com/barge-cruise-canal-du-midi/ Comprehensive review of the Enchanté luxury barge] on the Canal du Midi
References
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