SS Guglielmo Marconi

SS Guglielmo Marconi

Gugliemo Marconi seen on a Lloyd Triestino postcard
History
Name	Guglielmo Marconi (1963–1983) Costa Riviera (1983–2001)
Owner	Lloyd Triestino (1961–1976) Italia Line (1976–1979) Italia Crociere (1979–1983) Costa Lines (1983–1985) Costa Cruises (1985–1993) American Family Cruises (1993–1994)
Port of registry	1963-1983 Trieste, Italy. 1983-2001 Genoa, Italy
Route	Genoa-Naples-Messina-Port Said-Aden-Fremantle-Melbourne-Sydney
Builder	Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone, Italy
Yard number	1863
Launched	24 September 1961
Completed	October 1963
Maiden voyage	18 November 1963
Fate	Scrapped 2001
General characteristics
Type	Ocean liner
Tonnage	As built, 27,905 GRT. 1983, 28,137 GRT
Length	701ft (213.7m)
Beam	94ft 2in (28.6m)
Draught	28ft 3in (8.6m)
Installed power	44,000shp (32,800kW)
Propulsion	Geared turbines, twin screw
Speed	24 knots
Capacity	156 1st class, 1594 tourist
Crew	443

SS Guglielmo Marconi was an Italian ocean liner launched on 24 September 1961 for Lloyd Triestino's Genoa—Sydney service. Her sister ship was SS Galileo Galilei. Guglielmo Marconi left Genoa on her maiden voyage on November 18th 1963. In 1976, Guglielmo Marconi was transferred to the Naples-Brazil-River Plate service of Italia Line. In 1979 she was transferred to Italia Crociere as a full-time cruise ship. This was not a success and she was sold to Costa Lines in 1983.

Costa Riviera at sea.

After a two-year rebuild, the ship reappeared as Costa Riviera for Costa Cruises in 1985. Costa Riviera alternated between Caribbean and Alaskan cruising until 1993. In this year American Family Cruises was launched, a joint venture between Costa and Bruce Nierenburg, to operate cruises aimed at young American families with children. AFC were not successful, and the ship sailed for Genoa in September 1994 where she was converted back to the Costa Riviera, and began cruising in Europe. Costa Riviera was sold for scrap in 2001.

References

"TN Galileo Galilei & TN Guglielmo Marconi". SS Maritime.