I just read that the consortium that was planning to purchase Norway for use as a hotel in Honfleur France has determined it wasn't worth the money. Same artical says word is that it has been purchased for the total sum of 18 mil. equiv. us dollars by an Indian scrap company for scrapping. I guess it's the end of the line.

<http://www.maritimematters.com/shipnews.html>

I wish I could say that I'm surprised, but I am not. The old girl has no real connection to Norway, having never operated from there, and apparently the French don't have the inclination to save one of their greatest engineering and cultural monuments. It's a shame to see the Norway (nee "France") go,but the Brits could not preserve either of the "Queens" in the UK despite the great records they both acquired during World War II, and the postwar years. With the anti-French sentiment in this country, I can't see any American entrepreneur wanting to bring her here.

I'm glad the Dutch got their act together with the Rotterdam. Unfortunately, the ship on which my wife and I spent our honeymoon the SS Monarch Sun, (nee Brasil, later Volendam of Holland America) is being cut up at Alang as I type.

We are not doing to good of a job of saving the SS United States either.

You've got that right.
I can't help but think the big U was better off before NCL purchased it. Though deteriorating before the purchase, I don't believe any stabilization work has been done since the purchase. I also don't believe they have any real intention of putting the hull back into service. They have too many new bottoms being built at this time to even need the U.
They may have purchased it for the title only. I suspect there is a legal twist to the whole deal that the general public is not yet aware of. Can't put my finger on it, but that's the only reason I can think of that would give NCL reason to purchase that boat in the first place.
Mark D.

NCL would appear to have purchased both the SS United States and SS Independence in order to secure ownership of any ships remotely eligible to compete with their new NCL America service in Hawaii. Under current maritime law, a ship must be US-built AND US-owned to provide direct interstate, or in the case of Hawaii, intrastate service between US ports. In return for rescuing the Project America hulls owned by bankrupt American Classic Voyages, NCL received an exemption to operate those ships in intrastate Hawaii service. The hulls were towed to Germany where the ships are being completed.

Wesley

Unfortuantely, preserving a ship is like trying to preserve 1000 steam locomtives at he same time! I had hopes that the "United States" and "France" might restored to service appearance and docked in the Hudson, side by side. One could be turned into a convention center, the other a hotel. The distinctive profiles would return some historic architecture to the city and provide viable space for high profile events. Running them is beyond hope, unless there is a sudden upsurge in demand for trans-Atlantic passenger service that requires a three day transit. The infra-structure to accomplish that alone would be excruciatingly expensive.
I'm afraid the day of the liner is truly dead. You'll see a BigBoy under steam first.

Unfortunately, the Norway is not just the France renamed. Not only has it be signifigantly lengthened and structurally modified, but what made it an express Trans-At liner, the massive bay of high out-put engines was removed when it was converted to a cruise ship. Morphed in to a bastard, no one except perhaps former cruise passengers love it.

Norway has not been lengthened, and retains 1/2 of its original steam plant to propel the ship. And at least some of the other 1/2 of the steam plant not used to operate as Norway was simply abandoned in place as ballast. The silhouette and structure was modified in the 1990s with the addition of two new decks. At some time in this period the exhaust was also re-routed from the side fins to new piping through the top of the funnels. The distinctive fins were retained as decorative trim.

Funny preservation detail on the Norway. An outdoor pool was added topside by dropping the pool tank into an former courtyard for a set of first class cabins. If you knew where to look, you could walk out into the "courtyard" and see the underside of pool. The former windows into the courtyard still retained their decorative trim as shown below. The ship was full of such reminders of earlier days as SS France.

Wesley

Latest word is that if Norway is not sold for $20 million by yesterday, Feb. 28 it will be sold for scrap. Already they are busy stripping the boat of fittings and storing them in containers. Two rumors floating around say auction, and fittings to be used for rebuilt U.S. or Independence. My bet would be auction.
Mark D.