Large Passenger Liners - SS France, 1960
Edited by David Barth, 7 December 2008
from page 92 of the November 2008 issue of Wired, by Cliff Kuang and
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The SS France was a Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (CGT, or French Line) ocean liner, constructed by the
Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard at Saint-Nazaire, France, and put into service in February 1962. At the time of
her construction in 1960 she was the longest passenger ship ever built. Her length of 316 meters remained unchallenged
until the construction of the 345 meter RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2004. The France was later renamed SS Norway and undertook
mostly cruises for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).
The SS France was the French Line flagship from 1961 to 1974, combining regular transatlantic crossings - six days and
nights - with occasional winter cruises, as well as two world circumnavigations.
As the SS Norway she was the flagship of the Norwegian Cruise Line from 1980 to approximately 2001.
Some, like ship historian John Maxtone-Graham, believe that the France was purpose built to serve as both a liner and
a cruise ship, stating: "Once again, the company had cruise conversion in mind... for cruises, all baffle doors
segregating staircases from taboo decks were opened to permit free circulation throughout the vessel." However, others,
such as ship historian William Miller, have asserted that the France was the "last purposely designed year-round
transatlantic supership."
Concept and construction
The ship was constructed to replace the line's other ageing ships like the SS Ile de France and SS Liberte, which by
the 1950s were considered old and outdated. Without these vessels, however, the French Line had no ability to compete
against their rivals, most notably Cunard Line, which also had plans for constructing a new modern liner. It was
rumoured that this ship would be a 75,000-ton replacement for their ships RMS Queen Mary and RMS Queen Elizabeth.
(This ship would eventually be the 68,000-ton RMS Queen Elizabeth 2.) Further, the United States Lines had put into
service in 1952 the SS United States, which had broken all speed records on her maiden voyage, with an average speed
of 35.59 knots (65.91 km/h).
At first, the idea of two 35,000-ton running mates was considered to replace the Ile de France and Liberte. However,
Charles de Gaulle (the future President of France) opined that it would be better for French national pride (which was
flagging due to the then ongoing Algerian War of Independence) to construct one grand ocean liner as an ocean-going
showcase for France, in the tradition of the SS Normandie. The idea of the liner caused some controversy, with some
for and others against it, as its construction would be publicly funded, leading to raucous debates in the French
parliament. The dealing lasted three and a half years, and though the letter commissioning the construction was
finally signed by the Chairman of the Compagnie Generale Transatlantique, Jean Marie, on 25 July 1956, debate about
the form, cost and construction schedule for the France lasted a further year.
Beyond the luxuries, the French Line had to also face the realities that transatlantic passenger trade was, at that
time, forecast to decline due to increased air travel. Also, costs to operate ships were increasing, mostly due to
prices of crude oil. Thus, the new ship would be larger than the Ile, but smaller and cheaper to operate than the
Normandie. She would also only be a two-class liner, which would, like the recently built SS Rotterdam, be able to
be converted from a segregated, class restricted crossing mode to a unified, classless cruising mode, thereby
allowing the ship to be more versatile in its operations. Despite these requirements, she was still to be the
longest ship ever built, as well as one of the fastest, meaning not only an advanced propulsion system, but also a
hull design which would withstand the rigours of the North Altantic at high speed.
Hull G19 was built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, in Saint-Nazaire, France, her keel being laid down on 7
September 1957. She was built in a non-conventional manner: rather than constructing a skeleton which was then covered
in steel hull plating, large parts of the ship were prefabricated in other cities (such as Orleans, Le Havre and Lyon).
She was built with a unique double bottom that enabled her to carry 8,000 tons of fuel - enough for the trip to New York
and back. The hull was fully welded, leading to weight savings, and had two sets of stabilisers fitted.
She was blessed by the Bishop of Nantes, Monseigneur Villepelet, and launched on 11 May 1960, at 4:15 pm, by Madame
Yvonne de Gaulle, wife of the President, and was then named France, in honour both of the country, and of the two
previous CGT ships to bear the name. By 4:22 pm the France was afloat and under command of tugs. President De Gaulle
was also in attendance at the launch, and gave a patriotic speech, announcing that France had been given a new
Normandie, they were able to compete now with Cunard's Queens, and the Blue Riband was within their reach. In reality,
however, the 35 knot speed of the United States would prove impossible to beat.
After the launch, the propellers were installed (the entire process taking over three weeks), the distinctive funnels
affixed to the upper decks, the superstructure completed, life boats placed in their davits, and the interiors fitted
out. The France then undertook her sea trials on 19 November, 1961, and averaged an unexpected 35.21 knots. With the
French Line satisfied, the ship was handed over, and undertook a trial cruise to the Canary Islands with a full
complement of passengers and crew. During this short trip she met, at sea, the Liberte on her way to the scrap
yard.
Service history as SS France
The France's maiden voyage to New York took place on 3 February 1962, with many of France's film stars and aristocracy
aboard.
On 14 December 1962, the France carried the Mona Lisa from Le Havre to New York, where the painting was to embark on
an American tour.
Career (France):
- Name: SS France
- Owner: Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (French Line)
- Port of Registry: Le Havre, France
- Ordered: 26 July 1956
- Builder: Chantiers de l'Atlantique
- Laid down: 7 September 1957
- Launched: 11 May 1960
- Christened: 11 May 1960
- by Yvonne de Gaulle
- Decommissioned: 25 October 1974
- Maiden voyage: 3 February 1962
- Status: Scrapped late 2008
Career (Norway):
- Name: SS Norway
- Owner: Norwegian Cruise Line
- Port of Registry: Oslo, Norway (1980-1987)
- Nassau, Bahamas (1987-2003)
- Ordered: 26 June 1979
- Builder: Lloyds Werft
- Christened: 3 May 1980
- by King Olav V
- Decommissioned: 23 March 2004
- Maiden voyage: 6 May 1980
- Status: Scrapped 2008
General characteristics:
- Tonnage:
- 66,343 GT (gross tonnage) (1961)
- 70,202 GT (1984)
- 76,049 GT (1990)
- Length: 316.1 m (1,035 ft)
- Beam: 33.8 m (110.6 ft) waterline
- Draft: 10.8 m (34 ft)
- Propulsion: Geared CEM-Parsons turbines
- quadruple screw (1961-1979) / twin screw (1979-pres)
- Speed: 30 knots (59 km/h) approx.
- Capacity: 1961-1974 in the following classes
- First class: 407
- Tourist class: 1,637
- Capacity: 1980-1990 - 1,944 passengers
- Capacity: 1994-2003 - 2,565 passengers
- Crew:
- 1961-1974 - 1,253
- 1980-1990 - 875
- 1994-2003 - 875
- Cost: approximately $80 million USD
See also:
RMS Mauretania - 1906.
RMS Titanic - 1911.
Europa - 1928.
Bremen - 1929.
SS Normandie - 1932.
RMS Queen Mary - 1934.
RMS Queen Elizabeth - 1938.
SS America - 1940.
RMS Oceanic - 1951.
SS United States - 1952.
SS France - 1960.
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 - 1967.
RMS Queen Mary 2 - 2003.
MS Oasis of the Seas - 2009.