Asahi Maru prewar In 1928, the Italian-built passenger-cargo ship DANTE ALIGHIERI was purchased by Japan from the Hamburg America Line. In 1937, she was requisitioned by the IJN and converted to a hospital ship at Kure. In 1944, she collided with an oiler in the Inland Sea and was abandoned as a constructive total loss. Builder: Societa Esercizio Bacini Year Completed: 1915 Displacement: 9,754 GRT Dimensions: Length 503.7', beam 59.5', draft ? Propulsion: Steam, quadruple expansion engines, 2 shafts, 16 knots.