Heritage - ss UNITED STATES to be scrapped?

The ss UNITED STATES to be scrapped… soll abgewrackt werden?
by Earl of Cruise

UNITED STATES - BIG U - at night in port, © colourized by Daryl LeBlanc

Am 10. Oktober 2015 schockte mich die Nachricht vom drohenden Ende der UNITEDSTATES.

Ich musste dabei an die Begegnungen, welche ich mit dem bislang schnellsten aller Passagierschiffe in meinem Leben hatte denken. In New York, auf See - als Entgegenkommer, oder Überholer - es war schon ein majestätischer Anblick wenn BIG U mit 35kts heran rauschte, oder in Europa in Bremerhaven. Wir verließen an dem Tag die Columbus Kaje in Richtung New York ... oder wie meine Tanten lästerten, die Kolonien.

Wie so viele, glaubte auch ich, das die SS United States Conservancy das Schiff sichert, und regelmäßig die Liegegebühren im Hafen von Philadelphia bezahlt - mtl. US$ 60.000. Die erste Gesellschaft zu dem Zweck war ebenfalls Pleite gegangen. Und bei dieser Conservancy schienen die Spenden zu fließen.

Mir vielen dann die vielen Projekte wieder ein, die sich mit BIG U beschäftigt hatten. Ein türkisches Konsortium wollte einst die UNITED STATES wie der in Fahrt bringen und unter türkischer Flagge als Kreuzfahrtschiff segeln lassen. Dazu wurde sie in die Türkei verholt und komplett sämtlicher Inneneinrichtung beraubt und vom üppig verwendeten Asbest befreit. Nach dem Konkurs der Investoren, wurde sie nach Philadelphia zurückgeholt und irgendwann unter der Leitung von Susan Gibbs, der Enkelin des Konstrukteurs William Gibbs, durch die SS United States Conservancy betreut. Dann trat ein Gruppe in das Rampenlicht, wie viele zuvor, die aus der UNITED STATES ein Real Estate Development im Hafen von New York am Hudson River, der Waterfront, machen wollten. Keine Investoren waren zu finden ...

UNITED STATES - BIG U - at present at her pier in the Delaware River in Philadelphia © SS United States Conservancy

Wenn nichts anderes geschieht, verkündete die SS United States Conservancy: “we will have no choice but to negotiate the sale of the ship to a responsible recycler”.

Das wird wohl das Ende sein, dachte ich mir traurig. Zugleich sah ich die UNITED STATES den Nordatlantik durchpflügen, die Bilder von Verwandten an Bord - meine unsägliche Tante Ruth, die ständig mit dem Geld ihres reichen Mannes angab, nervend. Oder die Bilder aus meinem Büchern, mit den Stars und Sternchen, den Politikern und gekrönten Häuptern. Sogar die Mona Lisa eines gewissen Herrn Leonardo aus Vinci reiste auf ihr.

Die United States begann ihre Jungfernreise am 3. Juli 1952 von New York nach Europa. Nach 3 Tagen, 10 Stunden und 40 Minuten erreichte BIG U ("bummelnd") Bishop Rock an der Südwest Spitze von Cornwall, und damit Europa. Bei ihren Sea Trials erreichte die UNITED STATES kurzzeitig stolze 44,7kts - mit der Maschinenanlage von 241.785 PS (177.833 kW) nicht unmöglich, denn das Unterwasserschiff war ein Staatsgeheimnis - besonders Widerstandsarm für den Wasser Vorbeifluss. Im Ernstfall sollte die BIG U als Trooper oder Lazarettschiff dienen. Denn die Erfahrungen mit den QUEEN´s von CUNARD saßen bei der US Admiralität tief im Gedächtnis. Besonders, weil sie es vermasselt hatten bei dem Umbau der NORMANDIE in ihren requirierten Trooper LAFAYETTE ... der ging aus Achtlosigkeit, Ignoranz und Inkompetenz in Rauch auf ...

Fällt jetzt also nach der FRANCE, der HAMBURG und so vielen anderen auch die UNITED STATES dem Schneidbrenner zum Opfer?

UNITED STATES und AMERICA begegnen sich auf dem Hudson River, Postkarte (eig. Sammlung)

Fingers Crossed ... hoffentlich nicht!

ss UNITED STATES - CRYSTAL CRUISES plant ein Comeback für die ss United States

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