Which ocean liner capsized at New York Harbor’s Pier 88 after a 1942 fire?

SS Normandie capsized at New York Harbor’s Pier 88 after a fire in 1942.

The French Line’s Normandie was one of the most celebrated ocean liners of the 1930s. Its Art Deco interiors, large size, and advanced engineering made it a symbol of French maritime design. After France fell during the Second World War, the ship remained in New York and was later taken into American custody.

While being converted into a troopship, a fire broke out aboard the vessel on 9 February 1942. Water used by firefighters accumulated inside the ship, causing it to lose stability and capsize at its berth. The damage proved too severe for the liner to return to service.

Normandie’s capsize is sometimes confused with a wartime sinking at sea. Unlike many famous liners lost during the war, Normandie was damaged while berthed in New York Harbor.