26/07/2026
Commemorating 70 years since the sinking of the SS Andrea Doria!
Built between 1950 and 1953, the SS Andrea Doria was a modern Italian steamship built in Genoa. The steel steamship weighed 29,100 gross tonnes and measured 212m in length, and it was driven by two steam turbines.
Whilst sailing from Genoa to New York, just before midnight on 25th July 1956, whilst steaming through thick fog about 45 miles south-east of Nantucket Island, SS Andrea Doria suffered a violent collision when the steamship SS Stockholm. The SS Stockholm had slammed right into the SS Andrea Doria's starboard-side bow whilst cruising at 18 knots.
Although only one water-tight compartment was flooded (the vessel could withstand two out of its 11), the ship immediately capsized - allowing for water to gush into the ship through its portholes. The ship gradually sank over a 10-hour period, having finally slipped beneath the waves around 10:00am on 26th July 1956.
Though the SS Stockholm suffered extensive damage, they were able to relieve 533 people from the SS Andrea Doria out of its 1,706 passengers and crew. Several other nearby ships were also able to assisst in relieving passengers, as due to the ship having capsized lifeboat launching was greatly impeeded.
Ultimately, the loss of life from the collision totalled 47 passengers and crew; with 42 from the SS Andrea Doria and 5 from the SS Stockholm.
If you enjoyed this short story, you can read similar ones on our social media pages, or come and visit our Shipwreck Centre in Arreton to see real pieces from this wreck and hundreds of others!
