Eventually the Olga managed to draw alongside and rescue Cleopatra's crew of five and skipper, they cut the towrope, and left the vessel adrift in the Bay.

Five days later a ship spotted the ‘Cleopatra’ floating undamaged off the northern coast of Spain, and she was towed to the Ferrol, Galicia.

Indeed, the cylinder, made of sheet metal riveted curves was literally built around the obelisk, with circular internal partitions used as cradles for the monolith.

Both ends were topped with a crown of planks, the cylinder could ride on the Nile, with minimal effort, using cables driven by winches.

After towing to a dry-dock of the Egyptian Admiralty, the cylinder was turned into a ship by adding an internal ballast made of rails, a bow and a stern with rudder and a roof to shelter the crew.