I'm quite relieved we're getting anything. Those overseeing the project could easily save themselves a whole lot of time, money, and pain and just had U-534 turned into scrap. When you occupy such a niche and less popular interest as we subsimmers do, you gotta take whatever bones they throw you.

Better a few totally refurbished parts as opposed to a few million tin cans. :arrgh!:

That is basicaly the same reason that the "Save the Classic Liners" campaign that I am part of is struggling to preserve the SS Independence and SS United States. I would say that 90% of America either does not care about a 50-55 year old liner, or they dont even know they exist.

Independence is less well know then the Big U is of course, but even considering that the United States was called "The First Lady of the Sea" and "The Flagship of America" once her service was done, everyone forgot she even existed.

And in her current state, and the cost that we believe to restore her as a hotel, is a large sum of money. without public support for restoration efforts on the ship, and donations to help fund that restoration, its like dragging a Ship by hand up a steep hill. Not impossiable, but very very hard.

Independence is a different story, she is in great shape, and her interior is pristine still, so the cost to turn her into a hotel is far less...which is why we were going to use her as a starting point. Then of course the problem becomes investors and donations, a location to berth her, I am thinking Hawaii, San Francisco, and other west coast ports. Then we need some one to buy the ship, and at the same time we are thinking about all this, Star Cruises is trying to illegally export the ship to India.

Just be happy that the 534 will still be around, considering the challenge of preventing a ship from leaving to be scrapped, and the timetable we have to deal with (only one weeks notice) its an uphill battle, and its only going to get worse