SS Atlantic (1953)

As Universe at Canada's West Coast
History
Name	SS Atlantic
Operator	American Banner Lines (1958-1959) American Export Lines (1960-1971)
Route	New York to Europe (American Banner Lines) Caribbean and Mediterranean Cruises from New York and Florida (American Export Line)
Ordered	1952
Builder	Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. Chester, Pennsylvania
Laid down	1952
Launched	July 1, 1953
Maiden voyage	1953 (as SS Badger Mariner) June, 1958 (as SS Atlantic)
In service	1953
Out of service	1995
Renamed	SS Universe Campus (1971) SS Universe (1976)
Identification	IMO number: 5028837
Fate	Sold ca. 1995 to breakers at Alang, India
General characteristics
Type	passenger liner
Tonnage	18,100 GRT
Length	554 ft (169 m)
Beam	76 ft (23 m)
Draught	26 ft (7.9 m)
Decks	6 passenger decks
Installed power	2 Foster Wheeler WT boilers operating at 620 PSI (Wet Pressure)
Propulsion	Steam, D.R. geared turbines, 19250 HP, Single screw
Speed	20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Capacity	840 tourist class passengers 40 first class passengers

SS Atlantic was an American-built vessel that operated for 42 years in various capacities. First designated SS Badger Mariner, she was originally built as a freighter in 1953.^[1] However, her career as a cargo vessel was relatively short. In 1958, she was rebuilt as a passenger liner. Renamed SS Atlantic, this ship became familiar to many American tourists during the 1960s, making cruises to the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

In 1971, she was retired from commercial service and purchased by C. Y. Tung, a Chinese shipping magnate, and converted to a university at sea, first as the SS Universe Campus, then as the SS Universe.