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The Willem Ruys (21,119 grt, 631 ft. long) was laid down before WW2, but only launched in 1946.
From late 1947 she sailed between Rotterdam and the Dutch East Indies (later Indonesia).
In the late 1950s she was rebuilt for round-the-world service.
She was sold to Flotta Lauro in the mid-1960s, renamed Achille Lauro and extensively rebuilt.
After a few years on the route from Europe to Australia and New Zealand she was used for cruising only from 1972.
During a cruise to South Africa in November 1994 she caught fire and sank in the Indian Ocean.
(Photo shows the Willem Ruys' original appearance.)
From a c. 1957 brochure promoting travelling on Dutch liners of several shipping lines (see below).
You may use my images on another website.
This page last updated December 17, 2005.
Then please credit them as being from the collection of Björn Larsson,
and preferably provide a link to my Introduction page.
Thank you!
