MS Achille Lauro

	Achille Lauro
History
Name	Willem Ruys (1947–1965); Achille Lauro (1965–1994);
Namesake	Willem Ruys; Achille Lauro;
Owner	1947–1965: Royal Rotterdam Lloyd; 1965–1989: Achille Lauro FU G. & C.; 1989–1994: Star Lauro S.P.A.;
Operator	Royal Rotterdam Lloyd (1947–1964); Flotta Lauro Lines (1965–1989); StarLauro (1989–1994);
Port of registry	1947–1965: Rotterdam; 1965–1994: Naples;
Ordered	7 May 1938
Builder	KM 'De Schelde' S&M, Vlissingen
Yard number	214
Laid down	25 January 1939
Launched	1 July 1946 (Delayed due to WWII)
Christened	by HM Queen Wilhelmina
Completed	21 November 1947
Maiden voyage	2 December 1947
In service	2 December 1947
Out of service	30 November 1994
Identification	Call sign: PIQF → IBHE; IMO number: 5390008;
Fate	Sank on 2 December 1994 off the coast of Somalia due to fire on board.
General characteristics
Tonnage	21,119 GRT as built; 23,629 GRT after refurbishment;
Length	642 ft (196 m)
Beam	82 ft (25 m)
Draft	29.3 ft (8.9 m)
Decks	9 (6 passenger accessible)
Installed power	2 × Sulzer/ Winterthur + 6 × Sulzer/de Schelde; 32,000 bhp (24,000 kW);
Propulsion	2 propellers
Speed	22.0 kn (40.7 km/h; 25.3 mph)
Capacity	869 passengers (as built); 1,372 passengers;
Crew	300

2°N 47°E / 2°N 47°E / 2; 47

MS Achille Lauro was a cruise ship based in Naples, Italy. It was built between 1939 and 1947 as the ocean liner Willem Ruys for Royal Rotterdam Lloyd. In 1965 Achille Lauro bought the ship, had it converted into a cruise ship, and renamed it after himself. In 1985 it was hijacked by members of the Palestine Liberation Front.

The ship was also involved in two serious collisions: in 1953 with the Oranje, and in 1975 with the cargo ship Youseff. It also suffered four onboard fires or explosions: in 1965, 1972, 1981, and 1994. In the last of these, in 1994, the ship caught fire and sank in the Indian Ocean off Somalia.

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Name ship: Willem Ruys". Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Ward, Douglas (1995). Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Oxford: Berlitz. ISBN 978-2-8315-1327-0.

[SMHD-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Name ship: Willem Ruys". Stichting Maritiem-Historische Databank. Retrieved March 12, 2016.

[Ward-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Ward, Douglas (1995). Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships. Oxford: Berlitz. ISBN 978-2-8315-1327-0.

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History
Achille Lauro
Name	Willem Ruys (1947–1965) Achille Lauro (1965–1994)
Namesake	Willem Ruys Achille Lauro
Owner	1947–1965: Royal Rotterdam Lloyd 1965–1989: Achille Lauro FU G. & C. 1989–1994: Star Lauro S.P.A.^[1]
Operator	Royal Rotterdam Lloyd (1947–1964) Flotta Lauro Lines (1965–1989) StarLauro (1989–1994)
Port of registry	1947–1965: Rotterdam 1965–1994: Naples
Ordered	7 May 1938
Builder	KM 'De Schelde' S&M, Vlissingen
Yard number	214
Laid down	25 January 1939^[1]
Launched	1 July 1946^[1] (Delayed due to WWII)
Christened	by HM Queen Wilhelmina^[2]
Completed	21 November 1947^[1]
Maiden voyage	2 December 1947^[1]
In service	2 December 1947
Out of service	30 November 1994
Identification	Call sign: PIQF → IBHE^[1] IMO number: 5390008
Fate	Sank on 2 December 1994 off the coast of Somalia due to fire on board.
General characteristics
Tonnage	21,119 GRT as built 23,629 GRT after refurbishment
Length	642 ft (196 m)^[2]
Beam	82 ft (25 m)^[2]
Draft	29.3 ft (8.9 m)^[2]
Decks	9^[2] (6 passenger accessible)^[1]
Installed power	2 × Sulzer/ Winterthur + 6 × Sulzer/de Schelde 32,000 bhp (24,000 kW)^[1]
Propulsion	2 propellers^[1]
Speed	22.0 kn (40.7 km/h; 25.3 mph)^[1]
Capacity	869 passengers (as built)^[1] 1,372 passengers^[2]
Crew	300^[2]