SS Andrea Doria

The SS Andrea Doria was an ocean liner for the Italian Line (Società di navigazione Italia) homeported in Genoa, Italy. Named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the Andrea Doria had a gross tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and 500 crew. For a country attempting to rebuild its economy and reputation after World War II, the Andrea Doria was an icon of Italian national pride. Of all Italy's ships at the time, Andrea Doria was the largest, fastest and supposedly safest. Launched on June 16, 1951, the ship undertook its maiden voyage on January 14, 1953.

Related Topics:
Ocean liner - Italian Line - Genoa - Italy - 16th-century - Andrea Doria - Gross tonnage - World War II - June 16 - 1951 - Maiden voyage - January 14 - 1953

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On July 25, 1956, while sailing off the coast of Nantucket bound for New York City, the Andrea Doria collided with the eastward-bound Stockholm of the Swedish-American Line in what was to become one of history's most famous maritime disasters. Although most passengers and crew survived, the luxury liner capsized and sank the following morning. The list of the ship left half of Andrea Doria's lifeboats unusable, which might have resulted in significant loss of life, but improvements in communications and rapid responses by other ships averted a great loss of life similar in scale to the Titanic tragedy over 40 years earlier.

Related Topics:
July 25 - 1956 - Nantucket - New York City - ''Stockholm'' - Swedish-American Line - Maritime disasters - Lifeboat - ''Titanic''

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The disaster and sinking were heavily covered by the news media. The Andrea Doria was the last major transatlantic passenger vessel to sink before airplanes became the preferred method of travel.

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