World of Ships – May 2018

PADDLE STEAMERS

Paddle Steamers I World of Ships I 93

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EASTERN EUROPE

ABOVE Radetzky was created in 1964-66, when the paddle tug Plovdiv was converted to serve as a replica

of the 1852-built steamer that was seized by Bulgarian rebels in 1876.

BULGARIA

Forming some 470km Bulgaria’s border with

Romania, the Danube has been a vital artery

for international trade and in 1876 had a

role in the establishment of the country in

its present form. A group of more than 100

freedom fighters disguised as peasants and

led by Hristo Botev boarded the DDSG paddle

steamer Radetsky before producing guns and

taking over the ship.

The Austrian captain had no alternative but

to take Botev’s group to the village of Kozlodju

although, before leaving, Botev gave him a

written statement for the DFDS headquarters

in Vienna confirming that the captain had

been forced to operate under duress. Russe-

headquartered state shipping company

Parahodstvo Recno Plavane (BRP) was one of

the most progressive Danube operators and

RADETZKY

BUILT 1954 as steam powered paddle tug Plovio at

Schiffswerft Budapest, converted to passenger vessel 1964-

66 at Russe, Bulgaria.

LENGTH 57.4m Width: 7.6m (hull), 17.5m (over paddles)

MACHINERY Compound diagonal by builders (400 hp),

replaced by diesel electric installation 1988-93.

PASSENGERS 200

One of more than 100 Series 732 steam-

powered paddle tugs built in Russia and

Hungary to a standard design between 1948

and 1959 and originally named Plovdiv, the

vessel was rebuilt 1964-66 to resemble DDSG

steamer Radetzky. This was completed in 1852

at Obuda, served until 1913 and was scrapped

in 1924 despite attempts by the Bulgarian state

with public subscriptions to buy the derelict

ship from the Austrian owners in recognition

of her place in history, having been boarded

by independence fighters at the beginning of a

revolt against Turkish rule in 1876.

The idea to create a new Radetzky was

prompted by the upcoming 90th anniversary

of the death of revolutionary Hristo Botev,

who fell in combat a few days after using

the ship to penetrate occupied territory. A

campaign was started by newspaper editor

Lilyana Lozanova with funds primarily

obtained from school children. The ship was

recreated using old builders’ plans, drawings

and photos, although new passenger saloons

were added. Some artefacts had been saved

from the old Radetzky and a museum with

items relating to Botev’s life was established.

The vessel was used for cruises by members

of the Bulgarian Young Pioneers’ Movement.

There were trips to Budapest and Vienna

in 1966 for official celebrations of the Botev

anniversary, the journey being made with

124 school children aboard. In 1982 she was

designated a national museum and has the

support of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture,

as well as the local authorities in Kozloduy. A

brought in screw tugs before World War II

and from the late 1960s made use of Russian-

built Raketa and Meteor type hydrofoils.

ABOVE The modern diesel-powered paddler Jagienka, seen on the river Warta at Poznan.

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