"WILLEM RUYS" becomes "ACHILLE LAURO"

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In 1964 the "WILLEM RUYS" was sold to FLOTTA LAURO, today MSC CRUISES and was renamed "ACHILLE LAURO", the ship went into a massive reconversion but kept her beautiful lines, she was a regular caller to Lisbon as a result I have great memories of this fantastic vessel, she is also a ship of my youth, "ACHILLE LAURO" became even more famous because of the 1985 hijacking, she was lost by fire in 1994 on the 2sd of December, the same day she started her maiden voyage back in 1947.

Photos copyright of Royal Rotterdam Lloyd Museum, except first image, postcard of my private collection  www.krlmuseum.nl

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