SS Morro Castle

The SS Morro Castle was a luxury cruise ship of the 1930s that was built for the Ward Line for runs between New York City and Havana, Cuba. The Morro Castle was named for the Morro Castle fortress that guards the entrance to Havana Bay.

Related Topics:
New York City - Havana, Cuba - Morro Castle

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In the early morning hours of Saturday, September 8, 1934, en route from Havana to New York, the ship caught fire and burned, killing a total of 137 passengers and crew members. The ship eventually beached herself near Asbury Park, New Jersey and remained there for several months until it was eventually towed away, dismantled, and sold for scrap.

Related Topics:
September 8 - 1934 - Asbury Park, New Jersey

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The devastating fire aboard the SS Morro Castle served to improve fire safety for future ships. Today, the use of fire retardant materials, automatic fire doors, ship-wide fire alarms, and greater attention to fire drills and procedures resulted directly from the Morro Castle disaster.

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