An item reported that by M. Paul Oriolle, Nantes, France 4 steam boats were ordered to be in the Congo (1) with the dimensions 15 x 3 metres. One of the boats was already completed and achieved the trials without success. With a natural draft and wood fired was the speed 14,58 knots due to the improved Oriolle boiler.
Note
1. French Congo was a protectorate since 10 September 1880, formally established on 30 November 1882, confirmed at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 and became in 1910 French Equatorial Africa of which also Gabon formed part.