The brief history behind the ship
Built by Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Kearny, New Jersey, USA. 1944

Keel laid as GENERAL R. M. BLATCHFORD but renamed GENERAL W. P. RICHARDSON and launched on  August 6th 1944, group type P2S2R2 number AP 118 by by Mrs. Brebon B Somervell.

2 November 1944 commissioned at Bayonne N.J. USA under the command of
Captain Joseph S Rosenthal. On the 10 December 1944 she sailed from Boston for her maiden voyage with 5.000 troops bound for Southampton, England, where she arrived on 21 December 1944. Thus began her wartime activity, sailing between the USA and Europe carrying troops and returning with troops and casualties.

Transferred to U.S. Army February 14, 1946, refitted for Mediterranean service, sailing with troops, families and general passengers. Laid up in March 1948.

Chartered by American Export Lines Inc from the US government for use as passenger liner, refitted at Ingalls shipyard, Pascagoula, Mississippi at a cost of $5 million. Renamed LAGUARDIA, 157 first class, 452 tourist class passengers. Her first voyage sailed on  May 27 1949, from  New York to Naples and Genoa, Later cruising included Palermo, Haifa and Piraeus. Mediterranean cruising continued until 1951. 

In  December 1951, she was handed over to the  US Maritime Commission for use in the Korean conflict then in November 1952  was laid up for four years in the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia.

In 1955 she was sold to the Hawaiian Steam Ship Company, Textron Inc, New York and she received another refit and was renamed LEILANI - Refitted for California - Hawaii service, carrying 650 first class passengers. The voyage from New York to California via Panama turned into a nightmare with food poisoning amongst the passengers and plumbing problems.

First voyage San Francisco - Honolulu February 5, 1957, and worked this route for two years. The vessel was eventually laid up in San Francisco, then moved to Todd Shipyard in Alameda, until seized by the US Federal Government in May 1959, put up for auction in June and bought by U.S. Maritime Commission.

Bought by American President Lines, San Francisco July 25, 1960. Sailed to Puget Sound Drydock Seattle for $8 million refit which started March 1961 for a luxury liner service, renamed PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, passengers 456 first class, 18,920 GRT. Sailed from Seattle to San Francisco May 10, 1962, began First voyage San Francisco - Los Angeles - Yokohama May 11, 1962.

Bought by D & A Chandris in 1970 for $1.8 million and refitted at Perama (Piraeus) for $8.5 million, renamed ATLANTIS. Completed June 1971, and commenced a weekly service between New York and Nassau, this operation was unsuccessful.

In October 1972 sold to Eastern Steamship Lines and renamed EMERALD SEAS. Cruising from Miami to Nassau, Freeport and Little Stirrup Cay. 1986 Managed by Admiral Cruiselines. Back into profit, with 960 passengers and up to 390 crew, the short 3 and 4 day cruises were very popular. Her last cruise as the SS Emerald Seas left Port Everglades on 20th February 1992.

Bought by Festival cruises in 1992 renamed SAPPHIRE SEAS, cruising Egypt and Israel. Laid up at Piraeus October 1994. 

Renamed OCEAN EXPLORER 1 summer 1998 for use in Lisbon as a hotel ship for Expo 98 following a major refit.

In May 2000, OCEAN EXPLORER 1  operated by The World Cruise Company was taken out on service at the completion of the first world cruise and laid up at Eleusis, Greece on March 25 2000.

In July 2001 used as a floating accommodation ship for support personnel involving the G8 summit meeting at Genoa, Italy. After the meeting, again laid up at Eleusis Bay .
Plans to use her as a floating hotel during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens fell through.

In July 2004 she was sold to Indian shipbreakers for scrap. Finally in November 2004 she left Greece under tow for Alang in Gujarat, India. The SS Emerald Seas was beached on 11 December 2004 and within a few weeks had gone completely.