| ruise Ship Achille has a background which is steeped in | | | | was flying the hijackers in order to yield freedom to |
| a tragic history that makes people shudder when they | | | | them in Tunisia, forced the aircraft to land in Sicily. The |
| think of the incident of brutal hijacking which occured | | | | Italian authorities took charge of the terrorists and |
| on the high seas over twenty years ago. | | | | convicted them to imprisonment for long time. |
| The majestic cruise ship Achille which was initially | | | | The PLO, Palestine Liberation Front was sued for |
| called William Ruys is remembered for the hijacking in | | | | Leon Klinghoffer's death. After PLO had paid an |
| 1985. This was a passenger liner and this ship began | | | | undisclosed amount to the daughters of Klinghoffer the |
| her maiden voyage in 1947, on December 2. The ship, | | | | suit was dropped. The sum was used for funding the |
| 192 metres by 25 metres measured 21,450 metric | | | | Marilyn and Leon Klinghoffer Memorial Foundation. This |
| tons. 900 passengers were accommodated on this | | | | organization works to fight against the terrorism |
| passenger liner. Equipped with 8 Sulzer engines and 2 | | | | through education, legal and political endeavors. |
| propellers, this liner was majestic looking in all aspects. | | | | The ship continued its service and reflagging happened |
| This ship was sold to Flotta Lauro Line and came to | | | | in 1987. It was then that the Lauro Line became the |
| be known as Achille Lauro after the Mayor of Naples. | | | | Star Lauro. In the year 1965, in January, the ship was |
| It was rebuilt and a lot of modernization took place. In | | | | renamed Achille Lauro after the Lauro Line Managing |
| 1985, October 7, 4 armed terrorists who represented | | | | Director. She was modernized and rebuilt by CN Riuniti |
| the PLF - Palestine Liberation Front hijacked Achille | | | | di Palermo. There were a lot of significant changes |
| Lauro, the Italian cruise liner. At that time, hundred very | | | | made to the beautiful ship which were the twin funnels |
| elderly passengers were on the cruise liner. The | | | | and painted blue. There was the Lauro star added. |
| hijackers had a snarling demand. They wanted Israel to | | | | The high funnels were topped by twin funnels, which |
| free the prisoners of Palestine and to prove their grit; | | | | were topped by smoke dispensers. The promenade |
| they killed an American Tourist Leon Klinghoffer 69 | | | | deck was made to extend forward with the upper |
| year old. The poor old man's body was flung | | | | decks were glazed and the hull had been again |
| overboard along with the wheel chair. After two days, | | | | painted with a blue color. It looked magnificent, and |
| the Egyptian government who was unaware that | | | | looked much like a very modern liner. In 1994, |
| Klinghoffer had been killed provided a safe passage to | | | | November, 30 she caught fire off the coast of |
| the hijackers in exchange for the passengers and the | | | | Somalia. The vessel sank in December 2. With that |
| ship. | | | | went a cruise liner, the Cruise Ship Achille which would |
| After the murder was discovered, the US Navy | | | | be known for its historical significance in the years to |
| Fighters took charge of the Egypt Airliner 737 which | | | | come. |