The largest cruise liner of the 20th century, the SS France

#CruiseShip #SSFrance #SSNorway
The largest cruise ship of the 20th century, the SS France.
History of the French ocean liner SS France.
The SS France was an ocean liner built at the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and commissioned in February 1962. At the time of its construction in 1960, the 316-meter-long ship was the longest passenger ship ever built, a record that remained unbroken until the construction of the 345-meter-long Queen Mary 2 in 2004.
The ship cost approximately $80 million to build.
The SS France was built to replace the line's other aging ships, such as the Ile de France and Liberté, which had become obsolete by the 1950s.
The ocean liner France, built between 1957 and 1960, was blessed by the Bishop of Nantes, Monseigneur de Villepele, and launched on May 11, 1960, at 4:15 PM, by Madame Yvonne de Gaulle, the president's wife. The cruise ship was then named France, in honor of both the country and the two previous CGT ships bearing that name.
After launching, the propellers were installed, the superstructure completed, lifeboats stowed in davits, and the interior outfitted. France then conducted sea trials on November 19, 1961, and unexpectedly achieved an average speed of 35.21 knots. Having satisfied French Line's requirements, the ship was handed over and embarked on a trial cruise to the Canary Islands with a full complement of passengers and crew. During this short trip, she met the Liberté at sea.
The France's maiden voyage to New York took place on February 3, 1962, with many French film stars and aristocrats on board.
On December 14, 1962, the France delivered the Mona Lisa from Le Havre to New York, where the painting was scheduled to tour America.
Poster advertising the France's 1965 Christmas and New Year's cruise to the coast of West Africa.
In 1973, the oil crisis erupted, and the price of oil fell from $3 to $12 per barrel. When the French government realized at the end of the Trente Glorieuses that keeping the France operational would require an additional ten million dollars per year, the French Line could not operate without this public money, and a press release issued in 1974 announced that the France would be decommissioned on October 25 of that year.
France completed 377 crossings and 93 cruises (including two around-the-world cruises), carrying a total of 588,024 transatlantic passengers and 113,862 cruise passengers, and sailing a total of 1,860,000 nautical miles.
Finally, in 1979, the ship was sold to Knut Kloster, owner of Norwegian Caribbean Line, for $18 million to be converted into the world's largest cruise ship.
By August of that year, Norway was transferred to Lloyd's shipyards in Bremerhaven, Germany, where she was to undergo an $80 million refit.
Norway was registered in Oslo and renamed on April 14, 1980. She was the first (and only) purpose-built transatlantic ocean liner to be rebuilt exclusively for luxury cruise service. Her hull shape, bow design, and accommodation arrangement were designed specifically for the rigors of year-round North Atlantic crossings.

In September and October 1990, two decks were added to her superstructure, adding 135 new suites and luxury cabins.

In 1993 and 1996, she underwent additional refits to comply with new SOLAS regulations.

In 1999, while Norge was in Barcelona, ​​a turbocharger fire broke out, putting her out of action for three weeks. On one of her subsequent cruises to Norway, she broke down in Bergen due to a leak in one of her propeller seals, delaying her departure until repairs were completed.

On September 5, 2001, during another transatlantic crossing, she sailed to Greenock, Scotland, and then to her home port of Le Havre, France. Her passengers learned of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington six days later, while floating in the middle of the ocean.

In April 2006, the Norway was sold to Bridgend Shipping Limited of Monrovia, Liberia, and renamed the Blue Lady in preparation for decommissioning.
On September 11, 2007, a court ruled that the Blue Lady could be safely scrapped, a decision that was met with criticism from environmentalists.
By July 12, 2008, the ship's bow and stern had been removed, and the ship's iconic profile was still recognizable. By September 2008, most of what remained above the waterline had been cut away, and by the end of 2008, the ship's dismantling was largely complete.
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