Tyger H asked:
What was the name of the cruise ship that caught fire on Christmas Eve during the 1960′s. Believe it to be mid-60′s.
What was the name of the cruise ship that caught fire on Christmas Eve during the 1960′s. Believe it to be mid-60′s.
The Mary Rose – or the Queen Mary.
The name of the ship was the Greek line owned LAKONIA. It sailed from Southampton on 9th Dec 1963 with a total of 1022 person on board of which all but 21 were British citizens. The ship had passed a safety check 24 hours prior to departure.
When the she was just north of Madeira and 550 miles from Casablanca there was a short circuit in the hairdressing salon whilst the passengers were enjoying a ‘dressed as tramps’ dance ( they thought the smell was excessive cigar smoking ).
The fire took serious hold just before Xmas eve. After what appears to be a scandalous dereliction of duty by the Captain and crew – 8 officers were charged with negligence. ( No rescue was attempted of those below decks, the wireless operator deserted his post taking with him into a lifeboat a nurse, abandon ship was severely delayed and there were cases of looting.)
The final fatality figure was 128 dead – 95 passengers, 33 crew.