I would suggest that the US government seize the ship as a fine for the underhanded way that the SS Constitution was sent to parts unknown in violation of the Basel Convention regarding hazardous materials.

Then the ship could be moored in a government anchorage while leadership could be developed for fund raising to restore her to her former glory.

I agree that this also could be a job creator IF stimulus funds were applied. But this should not depended on and a private voluntary would be a better choice. Some could contribute while others could volunteer their labor.

All it takes is leadership with vision.

This is the same pattern that NCL has used before when dispatching ships to the beach of death. First to ” Star Cruise”, then sold to a breaker. And what breaker does not want her? No asbestos, just steel. Nothing to really sell except guages and engine room trinkets. All else is steel, iron and aluminum. A breakers dream…
If we are going to do something, it must be now. It is time to forget about her being a ship again. It is time for her to come home to New York City adn to be permanently berthed as a hotel or convetion center. This is the only option for her now. What is the cost?
At least 6 million for the hulk as that is what the breakers will pay. At least 3 million too move her to New York. I hope that someone has been in talks with the Port Authority. She should be turned over to the City as a gift, under our control or some neutral party to convert her and care for her. It is not likely anyone would get rich off her as a hotel in a short term, but is it not better to preserve her as something besides making her into 8 trillion razor blades?

I should think a boycott of NCL would be a good idea. I do not know how successful it would be, but these people have shown themselves to be completely unworthy of any trust and totally without honor. I know I will not cruise with them again.

In a absolute worst case scenario I would like her towed out to sea and sunk. I think the ship could be reasonably restored in some third world ship yard in China, India, or Brazil, Mexico. The furniture designs could be sent to China or Korea to be copied and make the ship look like the way it did in 1969. Then Queen Mary it in NYC. or similar city. What is needed is someone with 15 Million dollars or so with the determination to save the ship the right way.

Metals/Aluminum are at their cheapest prices in years. Every cruiseline company is hurting. Wouldn’t it be better instead of selling for scrap, for an entity to buy the aluminum/metals/supplies needed at such drastically low prices and fix-up/repair the ship?

Geachte stichting safe s.s. United States,

Mijn is Norbert Buijel en ik kom uit Rotterdam (Holland) , ik hoop dat jullie voor elkaar krijgen dat het schip bewaart blijft en behouden blijft. Zoals jullie hadden wij ook moeten vechten voor onze Schip s.s. Rotterdam en gelukkig krijgen dat voor elkaar, dat het s.s. Rotterdam in onze haven voor altijd als hotel en leerschool kan uitoefenen. Blijven vechten voor het behoud van het s.s. United States. Succes

Groet Norbert Buijel,

I would have to agree with Verela, if nothing else she should become an underwater reef and dive spot like the Oriskany, the hulls already been stripped and cleared of asbestos she could become a significant underwater attraction at virtually no cost. In the right environmental conditions she’d last for hundreds of years intact, look at the Britannic or the Vasa.

I was also wondering about the condition of the United States aliminium superstructure. The QE2 was built in the 60’s in a similar manner with a steel hull and aliminium superstructure and one of the main reasons Cunard opted to retire the QE2 was that after 30 years the aliminium had began to seriously corrode and fail against the salt water of the atlantic, its the reason Cunard built the Queen Mary 2 out of pure steel instead. As the United States has already been exposed such erosion for the first 17 years of her life I was wondering what state shes in now?

The Queen Mary in Long Beach is a favorite of mine and is not being taken care of as well as she deserves either. I feel the public needs to be informed of just what the S.S. United States should mean to the country. Most people were happy to help when informed of the demise of the Statue of Liberty. Public television and the History Channel need to air the new film “The lady in waiting” to help educate those uninformed about this historic ship. In my mind the perfect thing would be to restore The United States old dock in New York and permanently moor her there. The very name of Manhattan brings to mind ocean liners on the hudson. If the city of Long Beach can’t seem to get their act together on a better venue for the Queen Mary move her to New York as well.

NCL obviously can no longer be trusted. If Knut Kloster still ran the company, the Norway would have not been scrapped and the United States would be sailing the seas with passengers. Knut is not happy with Star cruises and regrets having sold NcL to them. Actually it was his son who sold them.
As for the United States, expect the worse. I would fully expect that Sadje Metha or however that person of whom I can not describe my feeling for in polite society has his minion staff on alert 24-7 for the sale of the United States. Then when they hear any word, to investigate and call him no matter the time, so he can wire the money. If any of you believe that someone could buy the ship off of him, he will not budge. A group from the United Arab Emrits (sp?) offered to buy the Norway off of him and he would have made a profit. He just jerked them around. This guy if he does get possession of the ship will be Satan bent to tear apart the ship.

Since there hasn’t been interest on the east coast has anyone thought about Lake Michigan? They have nothing like this in Chicago(Musuem of Science and Industry). It could be that hotel and maritime museum there.

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Details.
Does anyone have any details about the sale terms ?
I determined that data at the SS Maritime is knowingly inaccurate.
Does anyone have details about estimated costs to acquire, besides sale price: survey, insurance, guard service, etc ?
Any reliable estimates to restore one half of the propulsion system ?
I saw an estimate of $3 Million to tow to NYC. Where did that come from ?

I am working on a long-shot to put her back into some kind of service (not as a liner or cruiser,) and I need data to help the potential client decide.

Thnx.
.

I keep listening to the news speak about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the best site to get one.

rH3uYcBX

This is merely a translation of comment #5, by Norbert Buijel.

Dear SS United States Conservancy,
My name is Norbert Buijel, and I’m from Rotterdam (Holland). I hope each of you is doing the right thing to preserve and restore the ship. Like you, we also fought for a ship, the SS Rotterdam, and we are happy that she is still in one piece. Continue to fight for the preservation of the SS United States.

Good Luck,
Norbert Buijel