America
was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock
Company in August 1938 and was launched in August 1939.
She was used as a troop transport for US Navy during world
war two, and then as a ocean liner and passenger ship
under several names and for several companies. She was
refitted and modernized in the 1960s, and had her size and
tonnage increased. She was sold several times until the
late 1980s, when she was sold for scrapping, and was
partly dismantled. In 1992 she was again sold, destined
for Thailand and a new life as a floating hotel. She left
Greece under tow 3.December 1993, but outside the Canary
Islands they sailed into a storm a few weeks later. The
crew was rescued by helicopter and America Star as she
again was named, drifted away totally out of control.
18.January 1994 she hit ground outside Playa De
Garcey. Six months later she was declared a total loss,
and for many years the wreck was visible on the
surface. She broke in two parts at some point, but today
also the bow section has collapsed and disappeared. Wreck
debris is spread out over a large area around on the wreck
site on the west coast of Fuerteventura.
Name:
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Former names:
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Dimensions: |
American
Star
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America, West Point,
Australis, Italis, Noga
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723,0 x 93,0 x 33,0 f
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Tons: |
Built: |
Home
Port: |
33961 grt
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Newport News ( US ) 1939
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( N )
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