SS Poseidon

The SS "Poseidon" is a fictional ocean liner that first appeared in the 1969 novel "The Poseidon Adventure" by Paul Gallico.

In the novel, the ship is on a tour around the Mediterranean after being converted from an ocean liner into a cruise ship. On New Years Eve a rogue wave hits the ship and capzises it. In the original 1972 film, the ship is also in the Mediterranean on its final cruise, which will take it to the breaker's yards in Greece, but an undersea earthquake produces a rogue wave that capsizes the ship just after midnight on New Year's Eve. The film uses the RMS "Queen Mary" as a stand-in for the SS "Poseidon", using both model shots and the actual liner, now in Long Beach, California.

In the 2006 remake "Poseidon", the ship sails the transatlantic route. This "Poseidon" too is struck by a rogue wave and capsizes, but is portrayed as a motor ship (MS) as opposed to a steam ship (SS), as it is shown using Azipod propulsion systems and uses petroleum fuels. It is registered in Southampton. As the old film used the "Queen Mary" as a stand-in for the SS Poseidon, the ship in this film was inspired by the RMS "Queen Mary 2".

In the 2005 remake "The Poseidon Adventure" for television, the "Poseidon" is a cruise ship, sailing from Cape Town, South Africa, on a cruise through the Indian Ocean. The events that lead to the capsize of the ship vary greatly from the original book, wherein a partly foiled terrorist plot to sink the ship using explosives below the water line leads to the "Poseidon" rolling over. This "Poseidon" also uses Azipod propulsion, making it an MS.

In the bulk of each story, a group of survivors try to make their way to the overturned top of the damaged ship, which will lead them out towards rescue.

Portrayals

The "Poseidon" has been portrayed in:
* "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972)
* "Beyond the Poseidon Adventure" (1979)
* "The Poseidon Adventure" (2005)
* "Poseidon" (2006)