MS WILLEM RUYS (1947) | 1.5:1 Scale

MS WILLEM RUYS
ROYAL ROTTERDAM LLOYD

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Short History
The MS Willem Ruys was a distinguished passenger liner built for the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd, with its keel laid in 1939 at the De Schelde shipyard in Vlissingen, Netherlands. Construction was interrupted by World War II, but the ship survived unscathed, earning the nickname "Lucky Ship," and was completed in 1947. Named after the grandson of the company’s founder, who was executed by the Nazis, the vessel embarked on its maiden voyage in December 1947, serving the Dutch East Indies route alongside its rival, the MS Oranje. Known for its innovative design, including low-slung aluminum lifeboats—a feature later adopted by modern cruise ships—the Willem Ruys offered elegant accommodations and became a popular choice for travelers. After Indonesia’s independence in 1949 reduced passenger demand, the ship shifted to North Atlantic and round-the-world services following a 1958-59 refit. In 1965, it was sold to the Flotta Lauro Line, renamed Achille Lauro, and converted into a cruise ship, though its later years were marred by incidents, including a 1985 hijacking and a 1994 fire that led to its sinking off Somalia.

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Showcase video on YouTube:
Minecraft: MS WILLEM RUYS (1947) | 1.5:1 Scale [​Download]

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Check out the other versions:
MS WILLEM RUYS (1950s Refit)

MS ACHILLE LAURO