Solvay 107

Solvay 107 is one the most famous Solvays as it was the last to be sold. It was crewed by Mr & Mrs Parent. Sylviane Parent is the font of all knowledge for all things Solvay and, as well as writing three books on the subject, is a great contributor to forums and other groups that are involved with Solvays. She has also provided me with a lot of information directly. All information on this page is from Vagus-Vagrant.fr unless otherwise indicated.

Solvay 107, registration NY3108F, was built in 1931 at Choisy-le-Roi and had a 30hp Deutz engine.  In 1967, it collided with another boat in Belgium; its bow was rebuilt identically, the only difference being that it was welded and not riveted.

She was sold in 1988 and renamed Barbarie, then Cassandre, followed by Moskito and finally Meltemi.  

Her last voyage before Solvay sold her was in September 1987. It sailed upriver to Arques with soda ash, then came back down to Dombasle with coke from Noyelles-Godault. And that was the end of the Solvay fleet.

Here's Solvay 107 in winter 1985 in Cambrai:

Here she is on the outside next to Solvay 17 in the Commerce Basin in Strasbourg:

A distance view of the above shot:

Here she is at the Solvay factory in Dombasle.

The furthest away of the three boats moored at Varangéville is Solvay 107. 

Here she is waiting for the lock at Neuville-sur-Ornain. Note the electric loco towing a péniche out of the lock:

Close up from the above picture:

In a lock in 1940:

With Solvay 99 in the 1960s:

Unloading coke in Dombasle:

Nancy in 1967:

In 1969, the bottom and engine were replaced in Chalon-sur-Saône (the cabin was built at the shipyard in Vitry-le-François):

With Solvay 114 in 1974 at Givet:

In Belleville sur Meuse in August 1975. Posted by Bernard Gaborit on Voies navigables du Nord-Est:

1982 census certificate:

In 1983 at écluse 1 at Le Chesne, Montgon valley on the canal des Ardennes:

In 1985, breaking ice with an axe in Tronville-en-Barrois:

On the Moselle at Pompei returning to Dombasle loaded with coke:

Here are three unsourced pictures, the first is at Dombasle:

Okay, just this once, a little gift for our very own Guillaume's birthday. A photo of the last four Solvay barges awaiting sale in May 1988. That day, with heavy hearts, we came to moor our 107 alongside its last companions. For us, a chapter was closing, but we will never forget this period of our lives, which for me was the best. I want to thank Kiki for all the effort he puts into preserving this beautiful history. Thank you, Guillaume, and enjoy this exceptional day!  Posted by Sylviane Parent on Voies navigables du Nord-Est:

A little touch of nostalgia. I'm finalizing my latest Solvay collection and I found this photo from September 1987 in the Montgon valley with Jean Pierre the lock keeper, whom those over twenty will remember! Especially our friend Jean Luc! Posted by Sylviane Parent on Voies navigables du Nord-Est:

The next three photos are from when we made the last trip of the Solvay fleet, in 1987: loading of coke at Noyelles-Godault on September 2; passing through Verdun, on the Meuse, on the 10th, and between Toul and Aingeray, on the Moselle, on the 12th, the day of our arrival at Dombasle (to unload on September 15th and 16th):

This is Solvay 107 in the Verdun lock in the early 1980s, and the lock keeper René Laborit, always a pleasant and dedicated person to the bargees. I remember a phone call from our son's school, even though he had left a message for him. However, despite the ban (by VNF) on bargees using their phones, he gave us access to his personal phone. It must be said that the relationship between bargees and lock keepers on the Meuse was quite friendly! (Photo published with the permission of his son, Bernard Laborit):

After the last trip the following was printed in the Solvay Information Bulletin:

When Solvay sold her in 1988 she became Barbarie and was shortened at Marseilles-lès-Aubigny:

Barbarie on the canal between Toulouse and Bordeaux:

In 2002 in Catelsarrasin:

And in 2010 as Cassandre:

Here she is as Cassandre on the canal du Midi:

Next she became Moskito:

Moskito in Ramonville in September 13th 2015:

She had yet another makeover and is currently called Meltemi and still moored at Ramonville:

The Meltemi - was designated a Maritime and River Heritage vessel in 2023. The Maritime and River Heritage Association inventories, safeguards, preserves, and promotes national maritime and river heritage. Here is a link to its information sheet: identification, characteristics, description, and heritage significance.
https://www.patrimoine-maritime-fluvial.org/navires/meltemi/

Finally, Guillaume Kiffer was presented with the nameplates by Sylviane Parent: