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Very sad to see all of them but TOPAZ and GORKIY were full of so many great memories. GORKIY was in such pristine condition and seems to be going quickly. TOPAZ breaking has slowed with not much progress since the March image. FINNJET apparently cost more to scrap than her steel was worth and the breaker has been suffering, according to recent reports.
Peter, hoping the images will open properly(www.midshipcentury.com)
Looks like the Maxim Gorkiy is being torn apart rather quickly. Too bad that she and the Regal Empress will be gone before the year is over.
Thanks for the update.
quote:Originally posted by Redlinekid2:Quite a sad sight, Peter. Another sad news to report regarding the SS United States. Star Cruises are in talks to sell her to the shipbreakers soon. Several of them have expressed a keen interest in the vessel. So keep your eyes open on the ship.
NCL has said they would not sell the ship to anyone or any company that is not American and I believe they have also said they would not sell her to any ship breakers.
Excuse my ignorence but would Star even have the authority to sell her? Wouldn't that be up to Apollo since they are the majority owner of NCL?
quote:Originally posted by VDK:Peter, the pics do not seem to appear on your site..:-(
I am using IE7 and they are appearing with no problem (although I wish I couldn't see them - sad pics).
[ 05-30-2009: Message edited by: Jekyll ]
Any idea of the name of the Vehicle Carrier there, please? I can't see anything on the Port Authority website which matches, but it's always out of date anyhow].
Pam
Perhaps the breaker was hoping to make some money from her gas turbine engines but nobody was interested.
Frosty 4
When you have worked and sailed on the older ships I would rather sail on a classic ship than one of these blocks of flats on a pontoon !
Why do you think some people maintain their own classic yachts which are often over 50 years old.
Maybe it is the qualitity of the work that went into building them which is the same with the classic cruise ships.
[ 05-30-2009: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ex P&O Cruises) ]
I like the modern facilities (modern baths, HVAC, large elevators etc.) of a newbuild but I am generally not thrilled about their exteriors. I would love to see those features wrapped in a beautiful sleek package There are a few (very few) attractive newerbuilds and most have been designed from the inside-out w/little consideration to exterior aesthetics. The average person cannot tell the difference but for people who can appreciate well-proportioned well balanced design, it is very clear.
quote:Originally posted by Frosty 4: On a cruise to Hawaii aboard Legend OTS the AHCL ship was refered to by the cruise director as an old scow.BTW what's wrong with the detail on new cruise ships?Frosty 4
If the Indy was fresh inside and out and had not been bastardized w/that 1995 refit, she would have put that RCI ship to same-externally at least. New cruise ships offer wonderful facilities wrapped in an often hideous exterior package. Passenger ships of the past such as the Normandie, Andrea Doria, Leonardo di Vinci, ss France, Sagafjord (as built), Gripsholm (1957) etc. etc. offered lovely interiors w/incrediblly beautiful exteriors. Those ships were built in a very different era when exterior design was very important. We saw a similar decline in residential architecture after beginning after WWII and automobiles in the early 1970s in the States.
Not to say there have'nt been good designs since then but it is few and far between due to the cost.
[ 05-30-2009: Message edited by: lasuvidaboy ]
When QE2 was being designed, it was decided to have her slab-sided w/flat decks-amidships. This saved money during construction and over time shipowners went even farther w/cost cutting.
Beautifully curved cruiser-style sterns went (to expensive) and long forecastles were mostly eliminated as all that 'wasted' space cannot accomodate modular cabins.
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