MAKE READING GREAT AGAIN: SS America was an ocean liner and cruise ship built in the US in 1940, for the United States Lines and designed by the noted American naval architect William Francis Gibbs. She carried many names in the 54 years between her construction and her 1994 wreck.

In October 1992, the ship was sold with the intention of being refitted to become a five-star hotel ship off Phuket, in Thailand.

In August 1993, she was renamed American Star, her propellers were removed and placed on the deck at the bow, the funnel was painted red, the bridge was painted signal orange just for the tow, and ladders were welded to starboard.

In December 1993, American Star left Greece for the last time, under tow by Ukrainian tugboat Neftegaz-67.

The hundred-day tow began. Shortly afterwards, American Star and Neftegaz-67 sailed into a thunderstorm in the Atlantic. The tow lines broke and six or more crew members were sent aboard the American Star to reattach the emergency tow lines, which proved unsuccessful.

Two other towboats were called to assist Neftegaz 67. On 17 January 1994, the crew aboard American Star was rescued by helicopter. The ship was left adrift. At 6:15 am on 18 January, the ship went aground in the Canary Islands.

While discussions among the ship’s owners, the towing firm, and the companies insuring the ship were going on, the ship was left to nature, with the forward part of the ship going aground on a sandbar.

Within the first 48 hours of grounding, the pounding surf of the Atlantic broke the ship in two just past the second funnel. The ship was declared a total loss on 6 July 1994.

The deterioration of the remains of American Star between 2005 and 2007. The stern broke off and sank in 1996, leaving only the bow section on the sandbar.