Majestic Cruises

The cruise ship Achille has a background that is steeped in a tragic history that makes people shudder when they think the incident of brutal hijacking which occurred on the high seas twenty years ago.

The majestic cruise ship Achille which was initially called William Ruys is known for the hijacking in 1985. It was a ship, the ship began its maiden voyage in 1947, and December 2. The ship, 192 meters by 25 meters measured 21,450 tonnes. 900 passengers were allowed on this ship. Sulzer powered propeller 8 and 2, this majestic ocean liner was to research in all aspects.

This ship was sold to Flotta Lauro Line and came to be known as Achille Lauro after the mayor of Naples. It was rebuilt and many of modernization has taken place. In 1985, October 7, four armed terrorists representing the PLF - Palestine Liberation Front hijacked the Achille Lauro, Italian cruise ship. At that time, hundreds of passengers were very old on the ship. The hijackers had asked a surly. They wanted Israel to release prisoners of Palestine and to prove their grain, they killed an American Leon Klinghoffer and visitors 69. The body of the poor old man was thrown overboard with the wheelchair. After two days, the Egyptian government, which was unaware that Klinghoffer had been killed provided safe passage for the Pirates in exchange for passengers and the ship.

After the murder was discovered, U.S. Navy Fighters took over the plane of Egypt 737, which was flying the hijackers to produce the liberty of Tunisia, has forced the plane to land in Sicily. The Italian authorities have supported terrorists and was sentenced to prison for long.

The PLO, Palestine Liberation Front has been prosecuted for the death of Leon Klinghoffer. After the PLO had paid an undisclosed sum to Klinghoffer's daughters the lawsuit was dropped. The sum was used to finance Marilyn and Leon Klinghoffer Memorial Foundation. This organization works to fight against terrorism through education, legal and political efforts.

The ship continued its service and the re-flagging of events in 1987. That's when the line became the Star Lauro Lauro. In the year 1965 in January, the ship Achille Lauro was renamed after the Director General Lauro Line. It has been modernized and rebuilt by CN Riuniti di Palermo. There were many significant changes in the very ship that were the twin funnels and painted blue. It has been Star Lauro said. The funnels above were complemented by twin funnels, which were supplemented by distributors of smoke. The promenade deck was made to extend forward with the upper decks were glazed and the hull was painted again with a blue color. It was beautiful, and very much like a modern liner. In 1994, November, 30, she caught fire off the coast of Somalia. The vessel sank on December 2. Who would a cruise ship, the cruise ship Achille which would be known for its historical importance in the years to come.