From the "LinersList" group on Yahoo:

Rotterdam on course again! (14-2-2003)
The negotiations between the municipality of Rotterdam, the investors who intended to
purchase the ship and the developers of the high-rise appartment blocks on the
Wilhelmina Pier will be continued! M.W. van Sluis, the alderman concerned with the
port of Rotterdam, has promised this during the "port committee" assembly, wednesday
the 12th of february. After a powerful speech by K. Krijnen, chairman of the
foundation, there was a debate about this subject, lasting for more than 45 minutes.
ss Rotterdam proved to be very much "alive" among the members of the council, across
all political branches.

Main issue was the much desired berth in the Rijnhaven. The foundation has
demonstrated by means of scale drawings that the ship can be positioned in the
Rijnhaven in several ways, maintaining a distance of at least 340m. from the proposed
"Montevideo"-tower. At such a distance the ship will contribute to the view from the
appartments, rather than disturbing it.

The alderman's promise made further discussion in the council meeting, thursday the
13th of february, redundant. But we did present the collected signatures to mayor
Opstelten. This took place in the grand lobby of the town hall, attended by a large
audience including press. Together, you have sent us more than 1800 signatures and
SOS e-mails; it made up an impressive packet. Thank you very much for that! You have
given a loud blow on the ship's whistle...

Thursday the 13th of february, ss Rotterdam was the main issue in TV Rijnmond news
(by the Rotterdam regional TV station).

***

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Steamship Rotterdam Foundation

james1@pernet.net

This is good news. Note how quickly 1800 e-mails were collected and sent. Can you imagine trying to get 1800 people to write regular letters and mail them for this purpose? You'd be lucky to get 50!

> From the "LinersList" group on
> Yahoo:

> Rotterdam on course again! (14-2-2003)
> The negotiations between the municipality of
> Rotterdam, the investors who intended to
> purchase the ship and the developers of the
> high-rise appartment blocks on the
> Wilhelmina Pier will be continued! M.W. van
> Sluis, the alderman concerned with the
> port of Rotterdam, has promised this during
> the "port committee" assembly,
> wednesday
> the 12th of february. After a powerful
> speech by K. Krijnen, chairman of the
> foundation, there was a debate about this
> subject, lasting for more than 45 minutes.
> ss Rotterdam proved to be very much
> "alive" among the members of the
> council, across
> all political branches.

> Main issue was the much desired berth in the
> Rijnhaven. The foundation has
> demonstrated by means of scale drawings that
> the ship can be positioned in the
> Rijnhaven in several ways, maintaining a
> distance of at least 340m. from the proposed
> "Montevideo"-tower. At such a
> distance the ship will contribute to the
> view from the
> appartments, rather than disturbing it.

> The alderman's promise made further
> discussion in the council meeting, thursday
> the
> 13th of february, redundant. But we did
> present the collected signatures to mayor
> Opstelten. This took place in the grand
> lobby of the town hall, attended by a large
> audience including press. Together, you have
> sent us more than 1800 signatures and
> SOS e-mails; it made up an impressive
> packet. Thank you very much for that! You
> have
> given a loud blow on the ship's whistle...

> Thursday the 13th of february, ss Rotterdam
> was the main issue in TV Rijnmond news
> (by the Rotterdam regional TV station).

> ***

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a


ryarger@rypn.org

I see by the article in flimsies that the folks in Snoqualmie got their zoning requests approved ... I wonder if the internet helped there ? Did my e-mail do any good ?


lamontdc@adelphia.net

Again; from the "LinersList" group on Yahoo:

Royal interest in WINDSOR CASTLE preservation

In a letter to Maritimematters from St. James's Palace, His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales expressed support for the plan to return
the former RMS WINDSOR CASTLE to Britain. Written by Captain EJT
Mellish, Welsh Guards on behalf of Prince Charles, he said, "His
Royal highness sincerely hopes that you do find some means to make
the project a success and that we may well see the RMS WINDSOR CASTLE
returned to these shores before too long". This comes on the eve of
the inaugural meeting of the RMS WINDSOR CASTLE Preservation Society
in Southampton, England in the Victoria Room of the Star Hotel on
Saturday March 1st at 2pm. Click on
http://www.maritimematters.com/windsor-castle2.html

(Maritimematters involvement is this project is to disseminate and
disperse relevant information with the hope that the ship be saved,
be it Cape Town of Southampton)

All the best,

Martin Cox

> ***

All this good news (including NYC Tug #13 is great; my "Surviving World Steam Project" was begining to take on the feel of a death watch. :(

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a


RMS WINDSOR CASTLE Preservation Society

james1@pernet.net