SS Andrea Doria

SS Andrea Doria was an ocean liner for the Italian Line (Società di navigazione Italia) home ported in Genoa, Italy, most famous for her sinking in 1956, where of the 1,706 passengers and crew, 1,660 were rescued, while 46 lost their lives. Named after the 16th-century Genoese admiral Andrea Doria, the ship had a gross register tonnage of 29,100 and a capacity of about 1,200 passengers and 500 crew. For a country attempting to rebuild its economy and reputation after World War II, Andrea Doria was an icon of Italian national pride. Of all Italy's ships at the time, Andrea Doria was the largest, fastest, and supposedly safest.

Design and construction

The shipbuilding of Andrea Doria took place at the Ansaldo Shipyard in Genoa, Italy. The keel was laid in 1950, and the ship was launched on June 16, 1951. The ship's design featured a number of innovative safety features, including a double hull and 11 watertight compartments. The ship was also equipped with the latest radar navigation and communication equipment.

Service history

Andrea Doria entered service in 1953, and quickly gained a reputation for luxury and reliability. The ship made regular transatlantic crossings between Italy and New York City, and was a popular choice among wealthy and famous passengers.

Sinking

On the night of July 25, 1956, while Andrea Doria was approaching the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, to make a scheduled stop in New York City, the ship collided with the MS Stockholm, a Swedish ocean liner. The collision resulted in a gaping hole in Andrea Doria's starboard side, causing the ship to list severely to starboard and eventually capsize and sink the following morning. The sinking of Andrea Doria is considered one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

Aftermath

The sinking of Andrea Doria led to significant changes in maritime safety regulations, including more stringent requirements for ship design and equipment, as well as improved procedures for emergency evacuation.

Legacy

Today, the wreck of Andrea Doria lies at a depth of about 240 feet (73 m) off the coast of Nantucket. The site is popular with deep-sea divers, but is considered challenging due to its depth, strong currents, and the risk of entanglement in fishing nets and debris.

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