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Aaron2007
Above Average Member
United Kingdom
222 Posts |
 Posted - 11/03/2010 : 00:36:19
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The SS United States was built in 1952 and even though she was the largest and fastest ocean liner ever built in the United States, she had a relatively short career. In 1969 travellers who would normally sail to their destinations were now flying. The United States retired along with the great Cunard liners Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary. For over 40 years she rusted away, being bought and sold many times over. A preservation group (SS United States Conservancy) tried to save the old liner but failed. Norwegian Cruise Lines said that keeping the United States afloat in her current state costs around $800,000 a year. Having her meet the 2010 SOLAS regulations and returning to service is out of the question. In March 2010 bids for scrapping the old liner were opened and very soon she will be just a memory.
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Lisa
Above Average Member
United Kingdom
299 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2010 : 10:35:17
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Awwww nooo thats bad news |
Http://famouslinersonline.com |
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Sean H
Above Average Member
USA
190 Posts |
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Aaron2007
Above Average Member
United Kingdom
222 Posts |
Posted - 11/03/2010 : 13:49:42
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She is bigger than Titanic (nearly 1,000 feet long). You can really tell her impressive size when you remove the funnels.
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Edited by - Aaron2007 on 18/03/2010 19:39:56 |
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titanicboss
Senior Member
United Kingdom
595 Posts |
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Sean H
Above Average Member
USA
190 Posts |
Posted - 17/03/2010 : 17:21:25
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"She hasent had her fate decided yet,"
Don't be so sure. The group interested in saving her, The SS United States Conservancy was offered first right of refusal for her sale but don't have the $20 million asking price. I understand that the price was reduced and they still couldnt come up with it. Now scrappers are being welcomed aboard to inspect the ship.
Even if they had the money to purchase the ship, it's only a rusted, completely gutted shell that would take hundreds of millions of dollars to clean up into something useful. With the state of the economy, dont hold your breath for a preservation/restoration project of this scale to work out when we cant even get poor little Nomadic in order.
That being said, I would LOVE to be wrong! |
Sean |
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Aaron2007
Above Average Member
United Kingdom
222 Posts |
Posted - 18/03/2010 : 19:48:04
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When they have fixed a date for her tow away for scrapping, I hope someone gives her a lick of paint. A small sign of respect as she takes her final journey. I wonder if the ship breakers in Alang, India have already put up a bid for her. It would be quite a trip to get there I expect. I don't think she would survive the journey. She would make a fantastic ship wreck for ocean life and divers to explore.
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Nikki Goff
Above Average Member
306 Posts |
Posted - 19/03/2010 : 15:24:16
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This is one of the last surviving of the great era of Liners, they over there in the US have no pride in themselves whatsoever to let a symbol like this go, It's called United States forgodsake.
People pay millions to support heritage railways, and historic planes, when I ask why they say ships are more expensive. Hogwash!
What about maintaining all those miles of track or all those tests to make sure old planes don't make unexpected landings in cities.
There seems to be a quite redundant fatalistic attitude that these ships are artifacts of the past.
Anybody with that attitude is robbbing future generations, just because the babyboomers dont think old ships are cool (heck enough of them go cruising on new ones)because they didn't grow up with them shouldnt consign a precious piece of heritage to the dustbin.
United States.... get some pride in your ship
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Topic |
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SS United States To Be Scrapped
