The Last American Ocean Liners

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Thermographer

I'd love to cross the Atlantic again in anything that wouldn't require breathing recycled air or require me to stand watch!
Cruse ship, sailing ship.. either! I bet the company would be better as well. ( see above bikini pics )

Cruise Liners.....best way to travel

[SteminDemon13]

Originally Posted by StarFox

Actually as much as we would love to return her to active service sailing the world, we currently believe that the best outlet for the ship is as a Static hotel, museum, and convention Center in New York

NCL is the only group that has inspected her in recent years, they conculded that it was feasable to return her to active service. It has also been reported that the SS United States Conservancy I believe was shown underwater video of the Hull of the ship, according to them, it is in good shape, with little marine growth

As far as her layup concerns, she was abruptly laid up in 1969, half way through a major overhaul, so I cannot even begin to guess what was done and what was not. I do not know of any inspections of her turbines

no matter what however, to return the Big U to operation is estimated to cost more then $500 Million USD. which is more then the cost of a new cruise ship in most cases.

even the cost to restore her as a hotel would be HUGE, far more then the Independence. which is why I believe that the Indy is a good stepping stone...however it seems time is now against us.

Hopefully, we can get enough press about the ship, and do enough to 1, prevent her beaching, 2, get people with the money to buy and operate the Independence, or the United States as a hotel, convention center and maritime museum

Well, if it get's turned into a hotel convention center and museum, then in essence with some time we could get her running again. She then could go on a cruise maybe 4+ times a year. First she has to be secured by someone though. Then the other necessary steps can be taken to restore her. PM me sometime Starfox.

[StarFox]

Im a few days late on this, but here is a Photo from last friday, the 8th



Wave good bye....although we hope we can stop the ship elsewhere. I cannot give details, I am trying to play it safe.

But we still have hopes the ship can be saved

In other news.....

Originally Posted by SS Maritime

February 12: In June 2007 NCL America announced that the Pride of Hawaii was to be transferred to NCL European fleet and renamed Norwegian Jade, now, Colin Veitch has announced that the Pride of Aloha will follow her, and will head for Asia to be deployed with NCL’s parent company Star Cruises in their Casino fleet of cruise ships in May. Colin Veitch claims that the completion is hurting NCL Hawaiian service, however, NCL America and NCL Cruises, both companies that are loosing a fortune according to their recent financial statements, is I feel due to the massive damage done to their image because of what they have done to their three classic liners as we have highlighted on the “Save the SS Norway, France Campaign” waged for a number of years, and the “Save the SS Independence & SS United States Campaign” these campaigns have done them far more harm, and I believe it will eventually DESTROY THEM! 21 or more million supporters, (many ex NCL passengers who will never sail with them again) cannot be wrong! NCL, you have been banned from all our cruise plans, and you can go to hell!!!

I cannot agree more with that last sentence. The only time I will ever sail on NCL is on the Maiden Voyage of the SS United States......but, a source in NCL says chances are that will never happen. Which basicaly confirms everything that I, the rest of the Save the Classic Liners team, and Rueben have said for years now.

I would also like to point out, that the founder of NCL, Mr. Knut Klosters, wishes he had not sold he beloved cruise line to NCL, which then got bought by Star Cruises, and was very disapointed at how Star Cruises treated his founding ship, the SS Norway

So it seems things are going down the tube fast for both NCLA, and NCL...and Star Cruises in General. Soon they will have no reason to continue their lease on the SS United States, and then things will begin to get intersting. Who knows which direction things will turn, but I know, as does our Team, that we will spare no effort in ensuring the permanent perservation of the Might SS United States. I will tie myself to the ship if I have to to keep her in America!!

[geetrue]

Isn't it possible to oubid a scrap dealer for the ship you want to save ... ?

All that leaves is somewhere to anchor or dock her and maintain her, right?

[StarFox]

yes, in theory that is all you would have to do, but I do not happen to have $5-10 Million lying around. That is about what the scrap value of the ship is.

We do have a contact in asia who was curious about buying her for a 5 star hotel. we are also working (as i stated before) to stop her soon

the big trick is stopping or buying the ship before she gets beached in India, because once a ship is beached, it gets expenisve to un-beach her

[Etienne]

One question that came to me after the thread went inactive:

Is the fireproofing on the ship asbestos-based?

If so, any conversion project would have to include removing the stuff (And it's a very expensive project) before anything else could happen. Otherwise, it's a huge health hazard...

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Etienne

One question that came to me after the thread went inactive:

Is the fireproofing on the ship asbestos-based?

If so, any conversion project would have to include removing the stuff (And it's a very expensive project) before anything else could happen. Otherwise, it's a huge health hazard...

Your not kidding.....and Canada is the largest exporter of the stuff.....outside of the third world IIRC :hmm:

[Etienne]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Your not kidding.....and Canada is the largest exporter of the stuff.....outside of the third world IIRC :hmm:

Yeah, the European ban essentially killed the economy of a few town in Quebec.

There are ways to use asbestos that are essentially safe (Fireman's gear and so on - There was even talk of using it to make paper, but I don't think that ever got off the ground), but the volume is far from what it was back in the days. Beside, now, asbestos as such a bad name...

It's one of the reasons you don't see many ships dating from before the
'70s sailling around. It's often cheaper to build a new boat than to remove the asbestos.

[Stealth Hunter]

I heard something a while back about the Carnival Cruise Line supposedly getting ready to rebuild a functioning scale-size liner of the Titanic. It was either Carnival or the other line... can't think of its name. Huge rumors flying around about it, but I guess it's been abandoned... or is still in talks/on the drawing board/on the project shelf.

[StarFox]

Yes we always knew it would have to be removed. But you could still keep many interior fixtures. just look at the SS Rotterdam being restored for a hotel...amazingly in Rotterdam. All asbestos was removed, and the interior was reassembled without it.

Edited for reasons concering the Preservation of the SS United States

[X15]

Everything I've read about the SS United States is that she has been fully stripped of asbestos (along with all other furnishings).

Also, she was at one point properly laid up by Newport News, but she surely stopped being dehumidified at some point, and who knows if NCL has hooked it pack up. I'd bet Newport News could make her operational again, but at what cost?

[StarFox]

and thats the problem, the cost

the cost to return the ship to cruise service is just as much as building a whole new cruise ship.

even a Hotel is very very expensive, but far cheaper then being returned to passenger service.

[Etienne]

Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter

I heard something a while back about the Carnival Cruise Line supposedly getting ready to rebuild a functioning scale-size liner of the Titanic. It was either Carnival or the other line... can't think of its name. Huge rumors flying around about it, but I guess it's been abandoned... or is still in talks/on the drawing board/on the project shelf.

A lot of people have talked about making a Titanic replica, however nobody got off the drawing board, for various reason:

1. Once the attraction of "Wooh, Titanic!" wore off, it wouldn't have much passenger appeal - The accomodations / entertainment would be nowhere near what other liners could offer

2. Titanic was actually pretty small by modern standard. Shipping - Especially pax shipping - is an economy of scale.

3. Modern safety regulation would prevent the building and operation of a ship that looked like Titanic. Modern safety regulations were invented BECAUSE of Titanic. So you'd have brightly colored semi-enclosed liferafts, and they'd have to be a lot closer to the waterline than on the original.

Plus the deck machinery would look nothing like the original (Or it'd be a major PITA for the crew, and a huge expense to acquire / have custom made), the bridge would have to be completly different, you'd have to install a bow thruster, double rudders, stern thruster, stabillizers...

Unless it was operated solely as an historical replica, in which case there's no way it'd ever be cost effective. Whatever happen, it'll have to integrate a certain level of modernity, and it'll end up a bastardization of all thing shipping.

Seriously, the closest you can come to in terms of look / spirits and still turn a profit is the QM2. Look at the butt of that thing - Don't tell me they didn't sacrifice common sense for looks.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by X15

Everything I've read about the SS United States is that she has been fully stripped of asbestos (along with all other furnishings).

Also, she was at one point properly laid up by Newport News, but she surely stopped being dehumidified at some point, and who knows if NCL has hooked it pack up. I'd bet Newport News could make her operational again, but at what cost?

Newport News has big government contracts for carriers and the like. I'm suspecting they would stick to this guaranteed revenue for quite sometime.

[SteminDemon13]

Etienne,

I have read a whole bunch of proposals for the "New Titanic". There was even one in popular mechanics some time ago. An exact replica is not in the cards, but a "fairly close" replica is feasable. They would have to meet all the requirements of a ship of today. For engineering, they could go all out and replicate the fire and engine rooms, but......I don't think a stoker is going to work for 10 cents an hour these days. A more feasable approach would be a modern efficient plant. You can however have 2 or 4 hand fired, coal scotch marine boilers (the kind used on titanic) and have tours for the replicated boiler rooms so people can see how it looked and how they operated. That could easily be incorporated in the watch rotation and the steam the boilers produce can be tied into hotel services. Reciprocating engines....that would be a big task, albeit very expensive. She can run two or four shafts, and two or 4 boilers along with two or four 50,000+ SHP Turbines & Reduction Gears, or Turbo Electric Drive.

The ship would have to be longer and wider than the original Titanic, as etinne mentioned, they are small by today's standards. The bow would be a bulbous bow. No more single undersized rudder. The Keel, and bulheads among other things would all have to be re designed, so that would effect how some of the replicated areas would look. Prop pockets can be utilized added efficiency. Addition of modern sewage and waste handling rooms is a must for environmental concerns (pulper, plastic disk maker etc.).

All in all, you can make a look alike titanic with four stacks and all, but it would have to be designed around the safety standards of today. Who in the hell would want to ride around on a ship without enough lifeboats and risk sinking if opened up a little?

To the United States, let's get her where she belongs first. I would be more than happy to lend a hand in restoring her to her former glory. I'll be down the hole, while you passengers...I mean top siders worry about the rest.

Snipes are the life of the ship, everyone else is just a passenger .