When two ships collided off the northeastern coast of the United States in 1956, the incident could have turned just as deadly and devastating as the infamous sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Luckily, the sinking SS Andrea Doria requested assistance in time. Several ships sailing on the eastern seaboard quickly responded.
The Italian ship christened the Andrea Doria was built to take passengers from Genoa, Italy to New York City. It was known to be one of the safest and luxurious passenger ships of its time. It was also seen as a floating art gallery due to a dazzling array of tapestries, paintings, and murals. The ship made its maiden voyage on Jan. 14, 1953. Over the next few years, it conducted 100 trips across the Atlantic Ocean.
