The 2002 horror movie Ghost Ship is best remembered for its terrifying scenes of a haunted cruise liner. The movie was shot mostly in Australia, and the main vessel used in the film was an actual Italian-built cruise ship, the MS Achille Lauro.
The Achille Lauro began her life in 1948 as the MS Willem Ruys, a Dutch cruise ship built by Cantieri Riuniti dell Adriatico at Monfalcone. She sailed for Rotterdam Line and had a capacity of 590 passengers and 200 crew members. In 1965, she was sold to Lauro Lines and renamed after Achille Lauro, an Italian businessman and politician.
At the time of filming Ghost Ship, the Achille Lauro was already over 50 years old. She had seen several owners since her original launch and had been through several refits. The most recent refit had been completed by Starlauro Cruises in 1995 when she was converted into an Italian-style cruise ship with a capacity for 1,600 passengers.
The MS Achille Lauro was chosen as the star of Ghost Ship because of her age and unique appearance. Her rusty exterior made her perfect for playing a haunted vessel from the 1940s. Her interior also provided plenty of suitable locations for shooting scenes set in different rooms and hallways.
In 2004, the MS Achille Lauro caught fire during a Mediterranean cruise and sank off the coast of Somalia. Sadly, this marked the end of one of Italy’s most iconic vessels.
Conclusion:
The MS Achille Lauro was used as the primary vessel in Ghost Ship due to her unique appearance and age. The vessel was over 50 years old when it was chosen for filming, having seen several owners since its original launch date in 1948. Sadly, it sunk off the coast of Somalia after catching fire during a Mediterranean cruise in 2004.