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Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
If America's cruise lines and business entrepreneurs cannot think of a way of making money out of the SS United States, I doubt if any of us mere mortal can come up with a viable scheme.

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:

Speak for yourself Malcolm

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We already all know Barryboat is not a mere mortal like us, but well above...

So in the light of that, I can now affirm I've full confidence the ship will be saved for a long and viable role thanks to him...

The biggest shame about this entire SSUS fiasco is that the ship wasn’t scrapped years ago…instead she’s been slowly neglected, stripped and abused; and to the point that she is only recognizable in profile. And while far-fetched ideas for her as a cruise ship, museum, barracks, floating laundromat, brothel, burger stand, etc. are possible, they are no longer practical or probable. At some point, common sense must prevail.

I’m not being cynical, just realistic.

One other thing: Barry, you really do yourself a discredit when you throw out these secretive, ‘Oh I’m not allowed to discuss the details’ nibbles of useless information. You do it all the time as if you know something the rest of us don’t; and then you expect us to play super sleuths and endure going back through your audio files. If you know something, tells us; otherwise, don’t even bring it up. That way, when you’re wrong or it turns out to be a load of tripe, you haven’t put your neck on the chopping block.

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Originally posted by LeBarryboat:

Speak for yourself Malcolm

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Speak for yourself, Barry.

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Originally posted by Frosty 4:
Trying to keep OLD ships around with hopes of restoring them to their time of glory is expensive and foolish. There has been too much said already about Norway , SSUS. and others.
Alang or other scrapers await!! IMHO.
No flack please.
F4

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No flack from me - I think you are making perfect sense....

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Originally posted by viking109:

It's only sad in that the ship, technical masterpiece that it was, had such a short working life. Could have been different if US governments had allowed sale when the interest was there

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Not surprising that after the novelty people not turned back to sail with here. Most of them chooses the competition ships QE, QM, Liberté, Andrea Doria, Nieuw Amsterdam, Kungsholm and afcorse here fleet mate America. Combined that with labor difficulty's that haunted United States Lines in the 1960's (strikes etc.)

Here lay-up saga made it all more tragic. Now a ghost of past times rusted slowly away, it's time to put a end of this ongoing saga and let here go in dignity.

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Originally posted by Rex:

In the end, it was shortsightedness on the part of lots of people, especially the US Gov't, pompously refusing to sell it to a non-US entity who could have made her profitable and certainly more useful than she has been.

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Her window of opportunity was between 1980 and 1990 just as the megaship concept had proven itself. There was still workmen then that could work around camber, sheer, and tumblehome, shortage of large tonnage, and the market not so far into the balcony craze. At the time there were plenty of suitors that MARAD all chased away.

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Originally posted by desirod7:
Her window of opportunity was between 1980 and 1990 just as the megaship concept had proven itself. There was still workmen then that could work around camber, sheer, and tumblehome, shortage of large tonnage, and the market not so far into the balcony craze. At the time there were plenty of suitors that MARAD all chased away.

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Originally posted by mike sa:
So she will sit and rot for ever ?

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Originally posted by SalamisFiloxenia (Tom...):

Speak for yourself, Barry.

Malcom is speaking for the majority, you can't make money from a big rusting hulk if you can't scrap it.

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Originally posted by mike sa:
So she will sit and rot for ever ?

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For various reasons I am not saying anything ...yet ... but I would say connect the dots from the various recent announcements. The speculation that Genting HK removed her from the broker, the changes at the Foundation, etc. ....

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Originally posted by SSTRAVELER:
Stay tuned because something is clearly afoot.

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March 28, 2010 – Dan Trachtenberg, Chairman of the SS United States
Foundation, recently announced the organization would cease operations
“in order to present the most unified, concise vision possible
regarding the future of our beloved vessel…” The Foundation website
will now direct visitors to the SS United States Conservancy site and
will encourage its membership to support Conservancy efforts on behalf
of the ship.

It’s safe to say that the Foundation re-introduced the American public
to the history and plight of our great national flagship and for that,
true believers in the SS United States should be deeply thankful.

“They really did a lot to kick-start the movement to save this
irreplaceable national icon,” said Dan McSweeney, who currently serves
as Executive Director of the Conservancy. “Dan Trachtenberg has been
a part of the SS United States preservation movement for well over ten
years and he’s never waivered in lending an encouraging word to those
who share his vision for saving the ship at any and all costs.”

The Foundation scored major media placements in the late 1990s and
early 2000s under the leadership of Robert Hudson Westover, who
founded the organization.

“Robert’s efforts will not be forgotten. His enthusiasm attracted
many supporters who went off to pursue their own efforts on behalf of
the ship,” said McSweeney. “He was a resonant voice in support of a
deep and strong vision to ensure this great ship is not lost.”

The Conservancy thanks the Foundation for its many years on behalf of
the “Big Ship.” We are glad to be combining the different
organizations that have worked to ”Save Our Ship” and understand the
importance of unified effort, both in order to maximize impacts and
minimize confusion about how members of the public can join the cause
of ensuring the SS United States is not lost to future generations of
Americans.

“This is a time for unity,” said Conservancy Board President Susan Gibbs. “There is much hard work to be done.”

[ 03-31-2010: Message edited by: BigUFan ]