Achille Lauro

The Achille Lauro began life as the Willem Ruys, a passenger liner whose construction spanned World War II. Built by NV Koninklijke Maats De Schelde Shipyard in Vlissingen, Netherlands, her construction began in January 1936 but was interrupted by global conflict, finally completing in July 1946.

Construction and WWII Years

Construction was severely disrupted during World War II when the incomplete vessel was extensively bombed at the shipyard. The Germans took control of the project, but their rebuilding efforts were consistently sabotaged by the Dutch Resistance throughout the occupation period.

Rotterdamsche Lloyd Service (1947-1965)

The vessel made her maiden voyage on December 2, 1947, sailing from Rotterdam to Indonesia under Rotterdamsche Lloyd ownership. Following Indonesian independence, she was reassigned to the North Atlantic run. In 1958, she collided with the Oranje, though fortunately without loss of life. The ship subsequently served routes to Canada and later New Zealand via the Suez Canal.

Lauro Line Years (1965-1987)

In January 1965, the vessel was sold to Lauro Line of Naples and renamed Achille Lauro after the company's managing director. During modernization at CN Riuniti di Palermo, an explosion delayed her return to service. She finally resumed operations in 1966 with heightened funnels and a new blue hull paint scheme.

The 1970s brought multiple incidents: a fire in 1972, a collision with the cattle carrier Youssef in the Dardanelles, and another fire. The ship was then converted for cruise service. Between 1984-1985, she operated under a Lauro/Chandris cooperation agreement.

In 1985, the vessel became infamous when Palestinian terrorists hijacked her, resulting in the murder of disabled American passenger Leon Klinghoffer, who was thrown overboard. This was reportedly the first such incident in maritime history.

Final Years and Loss (1987-1994)

Financial difficulties led Lauro Line to sell to Mediterranean Shipping Cruises in 1987, with the vessel operating under their Star Lauro subsidiary and the Swiss flag. A film was made about the 1985 hijacking. On December 2, 1994, while cruising off Somalia, the ship caught fire. All 1,090 passengers and crew were rescued, but the vessel was declared a total loss and sank in the Indian Ocean.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Measurement
Length	192.8m (632.5 ft)
Beam	24.0m (78.7 ft)
Draft	8.6m (28.2 ft)
Gross Tonnage	23,112 tons
Propulsion	8 diesels powering 2 propellers
Service Speed	22 knots
Passenger Capacity	1,600