SS Conte Verde was an Italian Lloyd Sabaudo Line ocean liner active in the early 20th century.
It was built in 1923 and had a GRT of 18.765.[1] She originally provided transatlantic passenger transport between Genoa and New York City. After acquisition by Italian Line in 1932, she became a part of Lloyd Triestino (also chartered by Italian Line) for service between Trieste and Shanghai. [2]
Four national football (soccer) teams were transported to Montevideo by the Conte Verde for the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930: Romania, France, Belgium, and Brazil. The Romanian team boarded in Genoa, the French delegation (including FIFA president Jules Rimet) boarded in Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Belgian team boarded in Barcelona, and the Brazilian team boarded in Rio de Janeiro. The trophy and three referees, Jean Langenus, Henri Christophe, and Thomas Balway also crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the ship.[3]
Due to the Italian Armistice in 1943, she was scuttled in Shanghai by Italian forces to prevent seizure by Japanese forces; but the Japanese forces recovered the ship that same year. The ship was towed to Japan, repaired, and converted into a troopship. However, in 1944, she was sunk a second and final time by a United States B-24 bomber near Kyoto. [4] [5]
Her sister ship was the SS Conte Rosso.