As P. Jacard wrote: "Nothing is more fascinating than the history of work. It is man's destiny itself, and the whole story of civilization, with its trials and its victories which mark the great phases of human progress.
The accomplishment of new techniques has always been the starting point for the successive cycles in the development of civilization" ...and every new discovery has played its part.

Technical characteristics of the steam-powered tugboat PIETRO MICCA
  • Year of construction: 1895
  • Material: Steel
  • Shipyard: Rennolson and Son, Southsields Newcastle, England
  • Masts: two
  • Rig: schooner
  • Overall length: 31,10 meters
  • Maximum width: 6,40 meters
  • Draft: 4,00 meters
  • Displacement: 330 tonnes
  • Gross tonnage:134 tonnes
  • Engine type: Engine registration no.: 435 - vertical triple-expansion piston engine with slide-valve distribution, built by Rennoldson and Son - Reverse thrust: by steering sector controlled by steam-powered servo-wheel
  • Output: 500 hp at 90 rpm
  • Cruising rate: 85 rpm
  • Boiler capacity: 25 tonnes (water)
  • Owner: Associazione Amici delle navi a vapore G. L. Spinelli
  • Cylinder characteristics: High pressure Medium pressure Low pressure Diameter in cm. 34.29 cm (13"1/2) 55.88 cm (22") 91.44 cm (36"x 24") Stroke 60.96 cm Cubic capacity 605.810 cc
  • Boiler: two double-burner furnaces with steam atomization (1.5-2.00 kg/cm2) capable of generating 2.688.000 kcal/h
  • Maximum pressure: 12kg/cm2
  • Operating pressure: 8-10kg/cm2
  • Max furnace power: 4.253.000 hp
  • Output: 500 hp at 90 rpm
  • Cruising rate: 85 rpm
  • Boiler capacity: 25
  • Fuel: heavy oil with low sulphur content
  • Fuel capacity: 40 tonnes
  • Speed: 10 knots
  • Operational autonomy: 2400 miles
  • Propeller: bladed, diameter 2.48 metres
  • Propeller pitch: 3.81 metres (estimate for 10% slip)
  • Auxiliary equipment: two multi-purpose donkey engines (for boiler feed, fire extinguishers, liquid transfer), one fuel oil transfer pump, one steam-powered bulk-transfer pump, one boiler-feed ejector, one bilge ejector
  • In March 1997, on conclusion of refurbishing works, the Italian Ship Registration Board gave the vessel top marks in its appropriate class both for body and for engine: 100 A1.1
  • Crew: Four persons: Captain, Chief Engineer, Able Seaman and Deckhand
  • Berths: sixteen
pag. 2 - Plans of the ship - Presentation - The History - The shipyard - Link - Home Page

e-mail: pietromicca@tecnomar.net