documentary about SS Itata
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Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores, always interested in the heritage and maritime history of Chile, supported and participated in the initiative of a historical documentary about the Steamship Itata, which shipwrecked off the Chilean coasts on August, 28th 1922 and which belonged to CSAV until 4 years before that sorrowful date.
In an interview with local TV station ‘Canal 13 Cable’, CSAV’s CEO Óscar Hasbún, tells us about the importance of rescuing the story of this vessel, not only for its previous operation within the Company’s fleet but also for the active role it played in the history of Chile.
The complete documentary can be found here:
Interview
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with Oscar Hasbún, Chief Executive Officer, CSAV
- As one of the main companies supporting post-production and pre-premier activities for the documentary, what made you decide to take such an active role?
The Itata has a special relationship with Sud Americana de Vapores because it belonged to the company, where it worked as a merchant ship, up until four years before the shipwreck. This project is making a tremendous contribution by reviving the country’s maritime heritage and history, which motivated us to support this initiative. - Why do you believe it is so important to preserve the history of this catastrophe?
Commemorating this ship helps revive Chile’s maritime past as well as our company’s history. We believe it is important to preserve the richness of the Itata steamship, together with the role it played throughout our country’s different historical periods since its construction in 1873, including its involvement transporting troops and cavalry during the War of the Pacific (where it also participated in the amphibious assault on the port of Pisagua, the world’s first such landing according to historians), its period with Sud Americana de Vapores, and its subsequent acquisition by third parties and adaptation as a passenger ship. These milestones reveal the different social and historical eras that our ancestors lived. - What did it mean for the company to participate in the tribute to the victims of the Itata tragedy in 2018?
It was an honor to have participated in the tribute to a vessel that belonged to our fleet since 1873 and up until four years before the accident. It reunited CSAV with its history, allowed us to honor the Chileans and sailors that lost their lives and served as an emotional ending to the search begun by Carlos Cortés and Ricardo Bordones. - What do you think about this documentary being broadcast by 13C?
As one of Chile’s oldest companies, we have played a leading role in its maritime and shipping history. Consequently, we see this exhibit as a cultural contribution since this emblematic tragedy is not well known by current generations and those without ties to the maritime world.
