La Marseillaise
1949
(Risawoleska RI-460a)
- Type: Passenger
- Displacement: 17,321 tons
- Dimensions: 594 x 75 ft.
- Machinery: Sulzer diesels, triple screw, 31,500 bhp = 20 knots
- Passengers: 736 passengers (344 first class, 74 second class, 318 third class)
- Builder: Societé Provencale de Construction Navales, La Ciotat, France 1939-49
- Service: Built for Messageries Maritimes (French flag). Laid down 1939, intended to be named Maréchal Petain but construction delayed due to the war. The incomplete ship was sunk by the Germans Aug 1944 during their retreat from southern France. Raised and towed to Toulon in 1946, and later to La Ciotat where she was completed as La Marseillaise.
Maiden voyage 18 Aug 1949 Marseilles-Yokohama. Continued in Marseilles-Far East service to 1957. Sold to Arosa Line (Panamanian flag); renamed Arosa Sky for Northern Europe-New York service. Sold to Costa Line (Italian flag), 1958; renamed Bianca C. Italy-Caribbean service and cruising. While anchored off St. George, Grenada, on 22 Oct 1961, she caught fire after an engine room explosion. All passengers and all but one crew member (who was never found) were taken to shore, but two died later from their burns. An attempt to tow the burning ship to shore failed and she sank in deep water 24 Oct.
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