SS Michelangelo

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The Michelangelo was put into operation in 1965, a transatlantic passenger liner of Italian shipping company Italia - Società di Navigazione ( Italian Line ).

The ship

The Michelangelo was, like her sister ship built almost simultaneously Raffaello, 275.50 meters long, 31.20 meters wide and had a maximum draft of 10.40 meters. It could carry 1,771 passengers, including 531 in first class, 550 in cabin class and 690 in economy class. The ship was powered by four steam turbines. The average travel speed was 26.5 knots, top speed just under 32 knots. The two sister ships were not only by its sleek and elegant silhouette, but also by unusual design. Thus, the fuselage was not, as is usual with passenger steamers, black, but completely painted white. The chimneys were surrounded by a bird cage-like latticework and equipped with long, black spoilers, which diverted smoke and soot.

Service history

The Michelangelo ran on 15 September 1962 when the stack. On 5 May 1965, she ran out in Genoa on her maiden voyage to New York.

On April 12, 1966, the Michelangelo came in the Atlantic in a strong storm and was hit by a huge wave, which significantly damaged the structures of the forecastle. In the incident, two passengers and a crew member were killed; more than 50 passengers were injured.

With increasing competition from commercial air transport, the Michelangelo lost in the late 1960s and passengers could soon no longer be operated economically; on some trips even exceeding the number of crew members of the passengers. The ship was able to continue for several years using only state subsidies. The shipping company is trying to reduce costs by reducing the crew, the waiting times shortened and the speed slowed. In addition, we put the ship for a time as a cruise ship, but what it turned out to be not suitable. But Michelangelo and her sister ship drove a further substantial losses. In 1975, the state's subsidy payments, and Società Italia decided that Michelangelo and the Raffaello after only ten years to put out of service. The two ships was launched in first in Genoa and La Spezia.

After several prospective buyers had visited the ships inconclusive and the Società di Navigazione had rejected an offer to purchase the Italian shipping company, Home Lines, the Michelangelo and Raffaello were eventually sold to the beginning of 1977 to the Shah of Persia, where a use was provided as an accommodation ship. The Michelangelo left Genoa in July of the same year and reached its new location Bandar Abbas, where it was converted to a floating barracks for 1,800 soldiers. While the Raffaello was shot in 1983 at an Iraqi air attack on fire and capsized, the Michelangelo, who had also keep under Iranian flag her name until recently, was still in use until 1991 when soldiers accommodation; then it was scrapped, sold to a Pakistani ship breakers and dragged in June 1991 after Gaddani Beach in Karachi and scrapped there.

Swell

  • Detailed illustrated Ship Description (in English)
  • Article on my - italien.info
  • Articles in On Board
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