Kapitan
11-18-07, 03:29 PM
Ok so heres the plot its 1973, in rotterdam and i am taking a liner on her last voyage
She lay at pier 39 as usual the grand old lady of the seas awaited me; it was left up to me to take her on her very last passage to New York.
Her black rust stained hull, with her gold stripe around it, the sleek yellow and white funnels lay back as if to rest all stood proud.
She was a magnificent vessel, she had out served most ships in the fleet but as with all things time gradually creeps up, she had crossed the Atlantic in peace and war, carrying passenger and soldier and now she was to do it all again for one last time.
This ship was not the biggest or even the fastest but she had a sense of glory and pride all of her own, she like many other grand liners had become part of a countries pride a nation who loved her, but again time creeps up.
My orders were to take the vessel on one last Atlantic crossing calling at Le Harve and Southampton then to make as fast crossing to New York, the ship was 36 years old but could still manage her usual speed of 28 knots.
It was 1930 before we let all lines go and she made way on her own steam, we had no need for tugs but she slipper out to sea in the cold dark night, with just a hand full of well wishers.
The next few days saw us pull into Southampton and Le Harve but the best was yet to come, we said farewell to both ports sounding our horn as we left, we passed the Ambrose light house and I finally rang down “FULL AHEAD” we were to kick every ounce of horse power out of her engines just one last time for old times sake.
We were not going for the blue ribbon that had already been captured by the more modern Liner S.S United States, but we were out to prove that the old lady the Nieuw Amsterdam could still make pace for a fast crossing.
Sure enough we did, passing the Nantucket light ship in 5 days and 3 hours even though slower by two days we still had made her final crossing averaging 28 knots all the way.
Passing the statue of liberty for the last time I sounded the horn as a salute to mark our entrance, there were no boats to greet us just a shore line of on lookers wanting to know what the fuss was about.
With the help of two tugs we finally moored at pier 40, so many ships had moored here including the Queens, Olympic titanic’s sister and other cunard rivals. I called down all stop one last time her engines ceased to make a sound the last passengers had gone her lights were out the crew had gone and now it was time for me to say good bye.
Days later she would make her way to Taiwan under her own steam but this time to the breakers, as the sun set I could only wonder what might be if she were still to be here.
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9191/departureph3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Departing rotterdam for the last time
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8034/norwayssalutevd9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Passing the new cruise liner SS Norway
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6903/sunseten3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Now laid up in New York she will sail on to tiawan to be scrapped, there are no passengers or crew, her lights are out the end has come after her long 36 year career.
She lay at pier 39 as usual the grand old lady of the seas awaited me; it was left up to me to take her on her very last passage to New York.
Her black rust stained hull, with her gold stripe around it, the sleek yellow and white funnels lay back as if to rest all stood proud.
She was a magnificent vessel, she had out served most ships in the fleet but as with all things time gradually creeps up, she had crossed the Atlantic in peace and war, carrying passenger and soldier and now she was to do it all again for one last time.
This ship was not the biggest or even the fastest but she had a sense of glory and pride all of her own, she like many other grand liners had become part of a countries pride a nation who loved her, but again time creeps up.
My orders were to take the vessel on one last Atlantic crossing calling at Le Harve and Southampton then to make as fast crossing to New York, the ship was 36 years old but could still manage her usual speed of 28 knots.
It was 1930 before we let all lines go and she made way on her own steam, we had no need for tugs but she slipper out to sea in the cold dark night, with just a hand full of well wishers.
The next few days saw us pull into Southampton and Le Harve but the best was yet to come, we said farewell to both ports sounding our horn as we left, we passed the Ambrose light house and I finally rang down “FULL AHEAD” we were to kick every ounce of horse power out of her engines just one last time for old times sake.
We were not going for the blue ribbon that had already been captured by the more modern Liner S.S United States, but we were out to prove that the old lady the Nieuw Amsterdam could still make pace for a fast crossing.
Sure enough we did, passing the Nantucket light ship in 5 days and 3 hours even though slower by two days we still had made her final crossing averaging 28 knots all the way.
Passing the statue of liberty for the last time I sounded the horn as a salute to mark our entrance, there were no boats to greet us just a shore line of on lookers wanting to know what the fuss was about.
With the help of two tugs we finally moored at pier 40, so many ships had moored here including the Queens, Olympic titanic’s sister and other cunard rivals. I called down all stop one last time her engines ceased to make a sound the last passengers had gone her lights were out the crew had gone and now it was time for me to say good bye.
Days later she would make her way to Taiwan under her own steam but this time to the breakers, as the sun set I could only wonder what might be if she were still to be here.
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9191/departureph3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Departing rotterdam for the last time
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/8034/norwayssalutevd9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Passing the new cruise liner SS Norway
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6903/sunseten3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Now laid up in New York she will sail on to tiawan to be scrapped, there are no passengers or crew, her lights are out the end has come after her long 36 year career.