SS France (1960)

SS France laid up in Le Havre, 1978
History
France
NameSS France
NamesakeCountry of France
OwnerCompagnie Générale Transatlantique (French Line)
OperatorCompagnie Generale Transatlantique (French Line)
Port of registryLe Havre, France
RouteLe HavreSouthampton-New York
Ordered26 July 1956
BuilderChantiers de l'Atlantique
Yard numberG19
Laid down7 October 1957
Launched11 May 1960
Christened
Decommissioned25 October 1974
Maiden voyage3 February 1962
In service1962–1974
Out of service24 October 1974
IdentificationIMO number5119143
FateSold to Norwegian Cruise Line after 5 years out of service
Norway
Name
  • SS Norway (1980–2006)
  • SS Blue Lady (2006–2008)
NamesakeCountry of Norway
OwnerNorwegian Cruise Line
Port of registry
RouteMiami, Key West, Cozumel, Roatán, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami, and also European cruises
Ordered26 June 1979
BuilderLloyd Werft (Refitting for Cruising Duties)
Christened3 May 1980 by King Olav V
Completed3 May 1980
Acquired26 June 1979
Decommissioned23 May 2005
Maiden voyage6 May 1980
In service1980–2003
Out of service25 May 2003 (Boiler explosion)
Identification
FateScrapped 2006
General characteristics
Tonnage
Displacement52,646 tonnes (51,815 long tons)
Length
  • 315.66 m (1,035 ft 8 in) overall
  • 299.22 m (981 ft 8 in) waterline
Beam
  • 33.70 m (110 ft 7 in) (1961)
  • 33.81 m (110 ft 11 in) (1990)
Height67.66 m (222 ft 0 in) keel to mast
Draft10.49 m (34 ft 5 in) design
Depth28.10 m (92.2 ft) keel to main deck
Decks
  • 12 (1961)
  • 13 (1980)
  • 15 (1990)
Installed power
  • 160,000 HP (1961, total)
  • 80,000 HP (1980, total)
  • 54,000 HP (1980, propulsion)
Propulsion
  • Geared CEM-Parsons turbines
  •  quadruple propeller (1961–1979)
  •  / twin propeller (1979–2008)
Speed30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) approx.
Capacity
  • 1961–1974
  •  First class: 407–617
  •  Tourist class: 1,271–1,637
  • 1980–1990 – 1,944 passengers
  • 1994–2003 – 2,565 passengers
Crew
  • 1961–1974 – 1,104–1,253
  • 1980–1990 – 875
  • 1994–2003 – 875
NotesCost US$80 million approx.

SS France was a Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT, or French Line) ocean liner,[4] constructed by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard at Saint-Nazaire, France, and put into service in February 1962. At the time of her construction in 1960, the 316 m (1,037 ft) vessel was the longest passenger ship ever built, a record that remained unchallenged until the construction of the 345 m (1,132 ft) RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2004.

France was later purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in 1979, renamed SS Norway and underwent significant modifications to refit her for cruising duties. She was renamed SS Blue Lady and sold to be scrapped in 2005, and scrapping was completed in late 2008.

  1. ^ Ships Monthly. Vol. 35. Waterway Productions Limited. 2000. p. 12. ISBN 9781861761170.
  2. ^ "Statistics | CaptainsVoyage.com | Captain Jan-Olav Storli". www.captainsvoyage.com.
  3. ^ Marine News. Vol. 58. 2004. p. 147.
  4. ^ "Billy's Favorite Ships – the Story of the SS Norway a.k.a. The SS France". 30 August 2016.