Glasgow And Ships Of The Clyde

News Event

Sunday, April 30, 1972 @ 0700 		FRANCE (1960-1974 Passenger liner 316.1 m (1,035 ft) of Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (French Line) of Le Havre, France : Scrapped 2008) Own Page

French Line's Passenger Liner FRANCE pays her first visit to Scotland
Ship's locationFirth of Forth (Scotland, U.K.)Port of RegistryLe Havre (France)
Gross Tonnage66,343

   The elegant passenger liner FRANCE made a spectacular sight when, with flags flying, she anchored off the Forth Railway Bridge at South Queensferry in the Firth of Forth on her first visit to Scotland.

  Her 1,368 passengers were ferried to Leith where fleets of luxury coaches carried them to Edinburgh and other tourist destinations.   Many visited Edinburgh Castle and gathered on the ramparts to witness the firing of the one-o’clock gun and they could see their ship in the distance.

   The 66,343 gross ton and 316.1m (1,035ft) long liner is owned by Compagnie Generale Transatlantique (also known as The French Line) of Le Havre, France and is commanded by Commandant Jean Nadal.   Since the time of her construction in 1960 FRANCE has held the record as being the longest passenger liner ever built.

    That evening FRANCE, with her siren blowing, ablaze with lights and her two streamlined-winged funnels (stacks) illuminated, left the Forth to continue her cruise.