"INDIA is planning to allow the SS France to be broken up at the infamous Alang shipyard, angering environmentalists who claim that the luxury liner is laden with asbestos.

"An official report seen by The Times concludes that the ship, now at anchor six miles (ten kilometres) off the southwest coast of India, should be allowed to be tugged into Alang, in the western state of Gujarat. The report, by a government-appointed inspection team, rules that the SS France is fit for dismantling, despite the presence of significant amounts of asbestos.

"It concludes: “No other hazardous material of any kind or quantity was found that cannot be safely removed, handled and disposed of at Alang.” "

Link is here

[ 07-31-2006: Message edited by: Indarra ]

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Originally posted by Pascal:
I simply can't imagine that the french government did absolutely nothing to save this ship, giving her a well deserved retirement as an historical monument.

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France had the vessel in their possession from 1974 to 1979 and did nothing except entertain offers of how to get rid of it. I know we've beaten this horse to death already in numerous threads, but it just seems that the end for this dear lady is long overdue.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

France had the vessel in their possession from 1974 to 1979 and did nothing except entertain offers of how to get rid of it. I know we've beaten this horse to death already in numerous threads, but it just seems that the end for this dear lady is long overdue.

Rich

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This is the worst possible news. I am still in shock. How could the French do nothing. Do they care nothing about their maritime history? This is shame. A crime against humanity, because generations to come will never get to see the famous S.S. France.

Having had first hand experience of dealing with officials in India who expected a back hander of duty free goods before they would do anything for you, when you arrived in port, I am not surprised to hear they are agreeing to the ex SS Norway being broken up.

I just wonder what it cost the ship breakers in Alang, or someone else, to get the go ahead in view of their lack of facilities for dealing with the asbestos on the ship in the correct manner.

If she is not sold to the Dubai consortium then the fun should start when they try to beach her with no engines to use and her deep draft of about 35 feet !

This could put the tug crews in a very dangerous position with the chance of wire tow wires breaking under stress and flying back on to the tug and possible injury to the tug boats crew.

I have seen the wire springs break on a cruise ship and they will fly right up into the air and often finish up on the deck where the ships mooring gear is situated.
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One of the Indian deck crew on ss Canberra was killed when this happened !

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Originally posted by J.S.S.Normandie:
A crime against humanity...

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Get real! Trivial use of that phrase in this context is absurd, in the extreme.

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Originally posted by J.S.S.Normandie:
Rather lets scrap the Taj Mahal....

A crime against humanity, because generations to come will never get to see the famous S.S. France.

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Considering this as a crime against humanity is far too much exagerate. We definitively can't compare this to the Holocaust, for example. But it's true that in a few decades, when Big U and QE2 will be scrapped (I doubt they will survive eventualy) and when QM will be collapsing on herself due to poor maintainance, most people would consider us as fools for not having saved at least one of the 3 last major liners of the golden era.

They are an incredible testimony of a major step in mankind developpement which started with steam and which ended with jet planes. Their kind represents a past refined way of life as well as the emmigrants era.

Most of people don't yet realize the historical importance those ships would undoubtfully acquire in the future. They would be like Greek theatres, unremarkable for their contemporans, but priceless for our time.

Of course, as a French, I would prefer to see the France preserved (and I would say farewell to her with no problems if IDF hadn't been scrapped, she was a far more distinguished and a much better representative of French Line, IMO), but if eventually United States or QE2 survives, I would be more than satisfied considering what we may expect.

[ 07-31-2006: Message edited by: Pascal ]

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Originally posted by Dambrosi:
Well, Brian O..it really is a crime against humanity...stop to think, this is still going to cost the lives of the men who are going to break her up....CANCER...that's what is going to kill them and the breaking firm could careless. It's all about the money..I hope she capsizes in those heavy seas before she gets to the beach..

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And not only cancer. Some will plummet to their deaths or suffer life-threatening injuries.

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Its amazing when you think of Japan, which was defeated in the last war, but still has one of its pre-war passenger ships preserved in Yokohama.

It does not say much for the governments of all other countries and their help in preserving the maritime history of their own countries in the form of old passenger ships.

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
Hi All

Its amazing when you think of Japan, which was defeated in the last war, but still has one of its pre-war passenger ships preserved in Yokohama.

It does not say much for the governments of all other countries and their help in preserving the maritime history of their own countries in the form of old passenger ships.

Neil ( Bob )

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There is a vague cliche of 'ocean liners' and passengers ships around - and also some fascination - but strange enough this did not result in more interest.

If you go to your local book store, ie; Barnes and Nobel etc. check out the transportation section. You'll find dozens of books on classic cars, race cars, airplanes, WW2 aircraft, rail travel etc but hardly ever a book on cruise ships or ocean liners.

I usually end up buying books used on ebay.

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Originally posted by PamM:
So we don't have ss Great Britain, Britannia, HMS Belfast, Bronnington, Warrior, Victory, Mary Rose, Cutty Sark, Waverley, Wingfield Castle, Shieldhall... probably well over 100+ if one includes tugs etc....
Somewhere there is a website which lists them all.

Pam

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Originally posted by Pascal:

No offense Pam, but most of these ships (with the notable exception of SS Great Britain) simply don't match in any way vessels like France, Big U or QE2, or at least don't play in the same category (Cutty Sark is a clipper, Wingfield Castle a ferry, Britannia a yacht...). At least one post war great liner should be preserved .

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Originally posted by WhiteStar:
Ernst -

If you go to your local book store, ie; Barnes and Nobel etc. check out the transportation section. You'll find dozens of books on classic cars, race cars, airplanes, WW2 aircraft, rail travel etc but hardly ever a book on cruise ships or ocean liners.

I usually end up buying books used on ebay.

It's too bad since I think there is a bigger market out there.

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