This Ship Should Have Sunk (But Didn't!) SS Malolo

Editorial Summary

The video explores the history of the SS Malolo, a tropical ocean liner designed by William Francis Gibbs and his brother Frederick. Built for the Matson Line in the 1920s, the ship was intended to serve the San Francisco to Hawaii route with luxury accommodations. The creator details the difficult construction process, noting that Gibbs's obsessive attention to detail and insistence on high standards led to significant costs and the bankruptcy of the shipbuilders. During sea trials in May 1927, the Malolo suffered a major collision when the Norwegian freighter Jacob Christensen rammed its side in dense fog. The impact created a massive hole near the boiler rooms, threatening to sink the vessel. However, the ship remained afloat due to Gibbs's advanced safety features, specifically the high watertight bulkheads and automatic watertight doors. Despite the flooding of a large swimming pool, the ship's integrity held, and it was eventually towed to New York for repairs. The creator concludes that the incident vindicated Gibbs's rigorous design philosophy, as the Malolo survived a collision that would have likely sunk other vessels of that era. The ship went on to have a long career as both a passenger liner and a troop ship during World War II.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.