Bronze Builders Plaque, Astilleros Espanoles, S.A. Bilbao, Spain

A beautiful bronze shipbuilders plaque from Bilbao, Spain, ship hull number 265 and dated 1974. The embossed letters on the plaque state "ASTILLEROS ESPANOLES S.A. FACTORIA DE OLAVEAGA, NO 265, 1974, BILBAO" with the shipbuilding company flag in the center.

Astilleros Espanoles SA, known by the acronym AESA was a shipbuilding company Spanish founded in 1969 by the merger of private shipyards Company Euskalduna Shipbuilding and the Spanish Society of Naval Construction, and public shipyards in Cadiz , formerly shipyard Echevarrieta and Larrinaga, owned by Horacio Echevarrieta .It was created to compete with the construction of large oil tankers. In July 2000, AESA merged with public military shipyards Empresa Nacional Bazan, leading to IZAR.

When the maritime past of Bilbao is remembered, it tends to evoke the great fishing, commercial and shipbuilding tradition that has always existed on the banks of the river. The small neighborhood of Olabeaga is located next to the river and is part of the parish of Abando.

The plaque survives in good condition and retains a wonderful old bronze patina. Measures 14 1/4 X 17 1/4 inches and has four mounting holes with one in each corner. Weighs 19 pounds.

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