PAQUEBOT
FRANCE - FRENCH - 1960
Built in shipyard under the name of PICARDIE, renamed FRANCE
before her launching, the second ship to bear this name within
the company. At the time, the largest French steamer, her
dimensions having been imposed by those of the docks in Le
Havre. The only French steamer with 4 funnels. FRANCE leaves
Le Havre for her maiden trip on April 20, 1912, that is to
say 5 days after the shipwreck of TITANIC. It should be noted
that the lifeboats of FRANCE have, from the putting into service,
a sufficient capacity to accommodate all the passengers and
the members of crew. The steamer will carry out all her career
on the line Le Havre-New York. The luxury and the style of
her accommodations will be worth to her the nickname of "Versailles
of the Atlantic" (or "Château of the Atlantic",
according to the sources). Leaves Le Havre on April 15 1935,
that is to say less than one month before the maiden arrival
of NORMANDIE, to be demolished.
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