World of Ships – May 2018

64 I World of Ships I Paddle Steamers

after the war ended, the steamer was idle from

1959 until appearing in 1969 with enclosed

upper deck. Only after lengthy deliberations

by the NLG management was the go-ahead

given for repairs to damage suffered during

a grounding in fog near Moderno, in October

1977, with no return to service until 1983,

when steam had given way to twin Hagglunds

diesels of 600hp and Von-Roll hydraulic

pumps. After many years of infrequent and

irregular service, G. Zanardelli now sees more

frequent use in the Upper Lake during the

summer timetable period.

ITALIA

BUILT 1909 by Odero fu Alessi, Sestri Ponente, Genoa

ENGINE Compound diagonal by builders replaced by twin

Hagglunds diesel engines powering Galbadini pumps

DIMENSIONS Length: 52.5m, width 6.5m ()hull), 12m (over

paddles)

PASSENGERS 600

CREW 7

After introducing a succession of Swiss-built

steamers, NLC broke new ground in ordering

Italia from Genoa-based Odero fu Alessi. The

paddler entered service in 1903, but was hardly a

beauty, with a bridge and wheelhouse above the

paddles and a large two-section funnel behind.

Fore and aft saloons were provided and the upper

deck aft was covered by a canvas awning. The

steamer was used as a troop and supplies carrier

in World War I, but became a major World War

II casualty sunk by bombing near Sirmone in

1945 while serving as a German transport.

Although raised, she was not put back into

service until 1952, under American control.

Efforts to improve passenger accommodation

started in 1969, with the wheelhouse moved to

the forward end of a now fully enclosed upper

deck, with new furnishings of a high standard

provided in the saloons.

At this time Italia started being used for

afternoon trips serving a different selection of

lake resorts each day, but the vessel did not

run in 1975 and when it did reappear, steam

power had given way to a pair of Hagglunds

diesel engines coupled with Galdabini pumps.

Italia continues on the special cruise circuit

and is still regarded as the flagship of a fleet

of more than 20 vessels, which also includes

hydrofoils and car ferries.

LAKE

MAGGIORE

PIEMONTE

BUILT 1904 by Escher Wyss, Zurich

ENGINE Compound diagonal by builder, 440hp, new boiler 1974

SPEED 22kmh

DIMENSIONS Length 51.2m, width 6.2m (hull),11.2m

(over paddles)

PASSENGERS 500

Piemonte entered service as Regina Madre in

1904, a year after the debut of her sistership

Francia, to share major sailings up to and

after World War II, when two vessels were

lost. With movement of evacuees boosting

traffic, Regina Madre was renamed Piemonte

in 1948, Francia becoming Italia as NLM

began a new building programme that

culminated with an 840-passenger motor

vessel being introduced in the mid-1950s,

when services to the Swiss basin of the lake

were added to schedules.

ABOVE Piemonte’s main restaurant, with the

elegant ceiling panels a feature.

ABOVE/BELOW Although maintained in immaculate condition, as evidenced by these shots from Olivier

Bachmann, sadly, Piemonte is steamed only for a handful of special sailings or charters each summer.

ABOVE Power for Piemonte comes from a diagonal

engine from builders Escher Wyss.

(Russell Plummer)

08 Paddlers_Hungary_NL.indd 64 17/04/2018 12:16