SS United States will possibly be sold - for scrap?

[Jens Boldt]

There are speculations that 1952-built SS United States might soon be sold, possibly for scrap. She's been laid up for almost 40 years now.
For the full news please click http://www.maritimematters.com/shipnews.html

Regards,
Jens

[Tomas]

Another mastodont bites the dust. Hm....

[Jens Boldt]

I'm afraid you're right, Tomas. :-(
To be honest, I never believed that she would ever be sailing again.
Star Cruises just bought her to own an American flagged vessel, in order to be  able to establish NCL America.
In my opinion they never ever intended to refit her...

[Mike]

Hello Jens
Interesting post and reading.
In reality if you spent a couple of million on the 'United States' i guess you would never notice.
Yes she was a great ship and fast but in todays climate my guess is her owners will get rid of her and any preservation society would need  to have millions to not only buy her, but moor her somewhere, Insure her,THEN look at spending serious money.
At her age she may also have a lot of asbestos onboard so they could always send her to ABLE UK at Hartlepool!
Regards
Mike :-)

[Kai R]

At her age she may also have a lot of asbestos onboard so they could always send her to ABLE UK at Hartlepool

Nope. All the asbestos is supposed to have been removed when she was in eastern europe. That is basically why she is just an empty hull without any interiors.

Regards,

Kai

[Phil English]

The United States has always been the subject of speculation and rumour. She has "possibly" been going for scrap for the last 30 odd years !! Though I have to admit that as more time passes, the more likely it will happen.

[Jens Boldt]

Hello Mike,
I totally agree with you. The investment to preserve her even in a static role will be enormous. And with economy going downhill all around the world I wouldn't spend my money on her either.
As I said before I never believed Star Cruises wanted to bring her back to life. I'm just wondering that they've kept her for almost five years instead of getting rid of her as soon as they had established NCL America...
Concerning the asbestos Kai is right. It should have been removed in 1993/94 when she was in Sewastopol and her interiors have been removed when she came back to Tuzla in 1994.
Might sound pathetic, but as the title of a popular song around here some years ago said, I think it's "Time to say goodbye"!
And on her way to Alang (or wherever she might go) let her sink in the Atlantic!

Regards,
Jens