Achille Lauro

The Achille Lauro was a passenger liner, most remembered for its 1985 hijacking.

Related Topics:
Passenger liner - Hijack

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Ordered in 1938, her keel was laid in 1939 at Vlissingen, Netherlands, for Rotterdamsche Lloyd. Interrupted by World War II and two bombing raids, the ship was not launched until July 1946 as the Willem Ruys. Completed in late 1947, she began her maiden voyage on December 2, 1947. She was 192 metres in length, 25 metres in beam, 8.9 metres high and weighed 21,110 tons fully loaded with 900 passengers and crew. She had 8 Sulzer engines, driving 4 propellers. She made her own drinking water out of seawater. In 1964, she was sold to the Lauro Line and renamed the Achille Lauro (after the former mayor of Naples, Achille Lauro). Extensively rebuilt and modernized, she entered service in 1966. The Achille Lauro was destroyed by fire on November 30, 1994, and sank as a result of the fire three days later on December 2. http://www.ssmaritime.com/achillelauro.htm

Related Topics:
Keel - Vlissingen - Netherlands - Rotterdamsche Lloyd - World War II - Bomb - Ship - December 2 - 1947 - Sulzer - Propeller - Made her own drinking water - Seawater - Lauro Line - Naples - Achille Lauro - November 30 - 1994

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