SS The Emerald

History
The Emerald in 2008

Name:	1958–1990: Santa Rosa 1990–1992: Diamond Island 1992–1996: Regent Rainbow 1996–2012: The Emerald 2012: Emerald
Owner:	1958–1970: Grace Line 1970–1975: Prudential-Grace Line 1976–1989: Vintero Corp. 1989–1992: Lelakis Group 1992–1996: Regency Cruises 1996–2012: Louis Cruise Lines
Operator:	1958–1970: Grace Line 1970–1971: Prudential-Grace Line 1992–1995: Regency Cruises 1997–2008: Thomson Cruises 2008–2009: Louis Cruise Lines
Port of registry:	1997–1998: Nassau, Bahamas 1998–2002: Limassol, Cyprus 2002: Nassau, Bahamas 2009–2012: Pireus, Greece 2012: Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Builder:	Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock
Cost:	US $25 million
Yard number:	521
Laid down:	January 15, 1957
Launched:	August 28, 1957
Completed:	June 19, 1958
Maiden voyage:	June 28, 1958
In service:	1958
Out of service:	2009
Identification:	Call sign: V4MR2 IMO number: 5312824 MMSI number: 239942000
Status:	Scrapped in 2012
General characteristics
Type:	Ocean liner Cruise ship
Tonnage:	15,371 GRT (1958–1991) 26,431 GRT (1991–2012) 8,713 DWT
Length:	177.88 m (584 ft)
Beam:	25.6 m (84 ft 0 in)
Speed:	17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Capacity:	1,198 passengers
Crew:	412

SS The Emerald was a cruise ship owned by Louis Cruise Lines. She was built in 1958 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock company in Newport News, Virginia, United States, for the Grace Line, as Santa Rosa. Between 1992 and 1995, she sailed for Regency Cruises as Regent Rainbow and between 1997 and 2008, she sailed for Thomson Cruises as The Emerald. Before retiring in 2009, she was the last passenger ship built at a U.S. shipyard that was still in active service.

In 1956, the Grace Line ordered two new ships to replace the aging 1932-built sisters, Santa Rosa and Santa Paula. Gibbs & Cox had designed the older two ships and would now design their successors. These modern ocean liners were built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock, Newport News, Virginia, USA and were among the last passenger ocean liners built entirely in the U.S. There was full air conditioning for passengers, and the ship was equipped with Gyrofin stabilisers. The interior was fireproofed with aluminum. Accommodations were spacious with all cabins facing outside and having private baths. Passenger ships of the day also handled cargo, and Santa Rosa's two aft cargo holds had side doors and automatic conveyors to quickly move pallets on and off the ship, thus giving her a rapid turn-around at port.Santa Rosa was launched on August 28, 1957 and delivered on June 12, 1958.

The new Santa Rosa and Santa Paula entered service on the New York to South America and the Caribbean for Grace Line. Santa Rosa sailed on her maiden voyage from New York on June 26, 1958.

In the early morning hours of March 26, 1959, Santa Rosa was returning to New York in heavy fog. She was 22 miles east of Atlantic City, N.J., when she collided with the tanker SS Valchem. No one was injured on the liner but one crewman from the tanker was killed, three were missing and their bodies never found, and 16 were injured. Santa Rosa’s bow punched a cavity extending halfway into the tanker and caused flooding of the lower engine room with resultant loss of power. Two boilers were also demolished. The funnel of the Valchem and adjacent vents were scooped off the tanker and carried onto Santa Rosa’s bow.Santa Rosa sustained heavy damage but was repaired and returned to service.

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