Breach Of The Madras Iron Pier – Old Print 1895
This is an 1895 copper plate engraving of the breach of the iron pier in Madras, now Chennai. Constructed in 1861, it was an open T-shaped pier or jetty. With a length of 1000ft, 40 ft in width, and a “T” head at the end. Breakwaters were not taken into account to protect the jetty. Because of this shortsightedness, it was exposed to the vagaries of the weather and rough seas.
Predictably after a strong cyclonic storm, it got badly damaged. A free-floating ship crashed into it cutting through the pier clean. The massive breach is shown in this image, eventually, the jetty was repaired and put into use again. Likewise, concrete breakwaters were constructed for the protection of the pier. A permanent Harbour was built in the later years. Today Chennai Port is one of the largest and busiest Ports in India.
Read more about How Chennai got a Port.
Did you know- before the jetty came up masula boats were used for ferrying passengers and cargo from ship to shore and vice versa.
From the collection- Antique Photo Bombay Horse-Drawn Tram., Vintage Raja Ravi Varma “Shivaji” Oleograph Print., Tennis In Coonoor Nilgiri Hills Ooty 1894- Old Photo
