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quote: NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES: The US flag was officially raised aboard the 83,000-ton Pride of Aloha, the refitted former Norwegian Sky, at San Francisco on June 7th. Home-ported at Honolulu, she is the first US-flag cruise liner since the Patriot and Independence last sailed for American Classic Voyages in the fall of 2001.And speaking of the 1951-built Independence, there's some news, possibly disappointing news to some. In April 2003, NCL was feeling not just ambitious, but very ambitious. In a single stroke, in a blazing flash of a provocative press release, the Miami-based cruise line, the third largest in North America, announced plans for further new builds, but also temptingly interesting plans to rebuild and restore two idle, but quite aged American ocean liners, the mighty speed champ United States and another former trans-Atlantic icon, the Independence. But little else, rather expectedly, has happened since then. In fact, there has been virtual silence on the subject from both NCL and the ships' actual owners. The United States, lying at a Philadelphia pier, gets the greater interest, of course, while the Independence has her own quiet limbo, but at San Francisco Bay's Mare Island. Now, there is word that the 683-foot long former American Export and later American Hawaii ship has been booked next month for a turn in a San Francisco dry dock. Rumor is that she is to be prepared for the long, slow voyage across the Pacific, going either to Chinese or Indian scrap merchants. The 53-year-old, twin-stacker has had, in reality, little chance of being revived, if only for her expensive, fuel-hungry, original steam turbines. It would seem therefore that if there are scrappers in her immediate future, they do not want a repeat performance of the final, demolition-bound trip of her sister, the Constitution, which sank while empty and under tow north of Hawaii in the fall of 1997.The saga of another veteran liner, the 42-year-old Norway, has an added addition: yet another rumor on her future. While still idle at Bremerhaven, a new cruise line based at Quebec, Canada is said to want the ship for an ambitious plan: refit and repair her in France (in fact, at her builders' yard, Chantiers de l'Atlantique), bring her up to 2010 safety standards, then sail the 76,000-tonner as the France and in French Line colors for seasonal Quebec-Le Havre crossings and around-the-world cruises. Alone, such a refit is said to cost $35 million. Again, stay tuned...
And speaking of the 1951-built Independence, there's some news, possibly disappointing news to some. In April 2003, NCL was feeling not just ambitious, but very ambitious. In a single stroke, in a blazing flash of a provocative press release, the Miami-based cruise line, the third largest in North America, announced plans for further new builds, but also temptingly interesting plans to rebuild and restore two idle, but quite aged American ocean liners, the mighty speed champ United States and another former trans-Atlantic icon, the Independence. But little else, rather expectedly, has happened since then. In fact, there has been virtual silence on the subject from both NCL and the ships' actual owners.
The United States, lying at a Philadelphia pier, gets the greater interest, of course, while the Independence has her own quiet limbo, but at San Francisco Bay's Mare Island. Now, there is word that the 683-foot long former American Export and later American Hawaii ship has been booked next month for a turn in a San Francisco dry dock. Rumor is that she is to be prepared for the long, slow voyage across the Pacific, going either to Chinese or Indian scrap merchants. The 53-year-old, twin-stacker has had, in reality, little chance of being revived, if only for her expensive, fuel-hungry, original steam turbines. It would seem therefore that if there are scrappers in her immediate future, they do not want a repeat performance of the final, demolition-bound trip of her sister, the Constitution, which sank while empty and under tow north of Hawaii in the fall of 1997.
The saga of another veteran liner, the 42-year-old Norway, has an added addition: yet another rumor on her future. While still idle at Bremerhaven, a new cruise line based at Quebec, Canada is said to want the ship for an ambitious plan: refit and repair her in France (in fact, at her builders' yard, Chantiers de l'Atlantique), bring her up to 2010 safety standards, then sail the 76,000-tonner as the France and in French Line colors for seasonal Quebec-Le Havre crossings and around-the-world cruises. Alone, such a refit is said to cost $35 million. Again, stay tuned...
Does anyone have other information on this? Confirmation? Discredit?
Thanks,Tyler
[ 06-21-2004: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]
Once again ill wil wait.
Something about that quote is odd, why put money into a ship to be scrapped and I hear the value of metal is declining. I think the Independence is already able to take a tow to the scrapyard without any small refit in dry-dock.The Norway news seems kinda fake or just some dream but you never know...
quote: Word I've just received from the proverbial "horse's mouth" (NCL) is that the rumors of Independence's scrapping are FALSE.And the maritime world heaves a collective sigh of relief (for now?)Dan, in a sunny Cold Spring Harbor.......
And the maritime world heaves a collective sigh of relief (for now?)
Dan, in a sunny Cold Spring Harbor.......
Sorry again.tyler
Not a major problem.
Jerry
35 million? There is no way you could bring the Norway up tp SOLAS 2010, re-engine, and redecorate her to be competitive, for 'only' 35m$.
quote:Originally posted by cruisemole:"While still idle at Bremerhaven, a new cruise line based at Quebec, Canada is said to want the ship for an ambitious plan: refit and repair her in France (in fact, at her builders' yard, Chantiers de l'Atlantique), bring her up to 2010 safety standards, then sail the 76,000-tonner as the France and in French Line colors for seasonal Quebec-Le Havre crossings and around-the-world cruises. Alone, such a refit is said to cost $35 million."35 million? There is no way you could bring the Norway up tp SOLAS 2010, re-engine, and redecorate her to be competitive, for 'only' 35m$.
Even thene it's to much money fore a 42 year old ship. How historical such vessel is is to much.
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