Norwegian Cruise Line Acquires U.S. Flagship S/S United States

Norwegian Cruise Lines - Press Release ^ | 4/14/03 | None

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Norwegian Cruise Line Acquires U.S. Flagship S/S United States

Company to Build on New U.S.-flag Operation

Miami, April 14 - Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) announced today it has purchased the S/S United States, one of the country's most venerable ships built in the glory days of trans-Atlantic sea travel. NCL intends to convert the vessel to a state-of-the art, modern cruise ship and to add her to NCL's planned US flagged fleet. A relaunched S/S United States will add more than 1,000 American maritime jobs and 5,000 shoreside jobs to the 3,000 maritime jobs and 17,000 shoreside jobs that NCL's US flag initiative with Project America is predicted to generate.

Widely considered to be the greatest superliner ever built in this country, the S/S United States was engineered to be faster, safer and more technologically advanced than anything else afloat when she was christened. To this day, her Atlantic crossing record has never been matched and she remains the holder of the fabled Blue Riband.

Knowing that S/S United States faced an uncertain future, NCL moved swiftly to purchase the vessel. NCL is now evaluating options for use of the ship under US flag and determining the extent of renovations needed to convert her to a state-of-the-art, modern cruise ship that will appeal to today's vacationer. The ship is expected to offer mainland US itineraries where cruise products are not currently available. The refurbishment of the hull and superstructure will be done at US shipyards with the outfitting completed overseas. NCL is no stranger to such conversions, having converted the fabled North Atlantic liner the S/S France into cruising's first Caribbean megaship, S/S Norway.

"When we discovered this American icon was in jeopardy, we saw a unique opportunity and acted immediately. The ship is a classic, she was built in America and is eligible to operate in domestic service under existing law and regulation," said Colin Veitch, NCL's president and CEO. "The S/S United States would be a phenomenal addition to our US flag operation down the road. We remain focused on completing Project America and successfully introducing our innovative US flag cruise ships in Hawaii, but we will now organize a project team to work with US yards, naval engineers and architects to develop plans for what should be the fourth vessel in our US flagged fleet."

The announcement comes on the heels of NCL's recent commitment to begin a US flag operation in Hawaii. A new federal law will allow NCL to complete the stalled Project America as a US flagged and US manned operation for inter-island Hawaii cruise service. NCL purchased the partially completed first Project America ship and substantial materials and related components for the second Project America ship from Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) in September 2002. The legislative initiative was designed to recover the US investment in Project America, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and tax receipts, and creating more than 20,000 US jobs.

On her maiden voyage, the S/S United States set an unbroken record by crossing the North Atlantic Ocean in 3 days, 10 hours and 42 minutes. Her service speed exceeded 35 knots and she was rumored to be capable of 50 knots. Designed by William Francis Gibbs, the ship is the longest passenger vessel ever built in the United States, at 990'6", was considered an engineering marvel at the time, and held a near perfect operating schedule.

NCL also announced today the purchase of another classic, American-built ship, the S/S Independence, which until October 2001 was sailing in the Hawaii trade but which was a victim of its owner's post-September 11th bankruptcy. NCL purchased the vessel at federal auction from the US Maritime Administration saving her from almost certain scrapping. The potential addition of the S/S Independence as a fifth vessel in NCL's US flag operation is being evaluated.

Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered the modern cruise industry beginning in 1966 with the first dedicated cruise ships in the Caribbean and is recognized for innovation in the industry, most recently with its popular Freestyle Cruising concept. NCL also has a history of developing creative itineraries as the first company to acquire its own Caribbean island, with the development of the 7-day Hawaii/Fanning Island itinerary, and now with its Homeland Cruising program, where 13 North American port cities host NCL ships.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Some good news from the maritime world. It will be nice to see this grand dame afloat again.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Thought you might find this interesting. Seems that she'll be leaving us.

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[finnman69]

Both incredible ships. The hew cruiseships are so awful looking and simply put, have no class. The entire Carnival fleet should be turned into artificial reefs.

These are real ocean liners.

[Zavien Doombringer]

I remember it being brought to Hamptonroads back in the eighties, what a magnificent ship! It remained in the boneyard for years here, when I got back from a 3 year tour of duty overseas, she was gone. I loved looking at her!

[B-Cause]

Bump

Never heard of it actually.

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She is a fast ship (I once tracked her on radar at over 40 knots) - has the engines of a 50's era aircraft carrier, heavily subsidized by the U.S. government and operated on the Atlantic run by now defunct U.S. Lines. Click here for a a link to a starting point to surf around and learn more.

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[Constitution Day]

Neat!
A lot of the fixtures & memorabilia from the SS United States are at a restaurant in Nags Head, NC.

I had always thought the ship had already been scrapped.

[wireman]

It's been sitting at a derelict pier on the waterfront in Philly for the last five years or so. She was a marvel in her day!

[John H K]

The question is, does she get renamed "Norwegian Flower" or some other idiotic name, get painted baby blue, and have a gigantic butt-ugly box superstructure slapped on?

Or does she remain the United States with the original black paintjob?

At least she'll be US flagged.

[B-Cause]

Bump

Here's a photo of her rusting away in Philadelphia.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

She's berthed down around Pier 80 near the Walt Whitman Bridge.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Now how did you get that photo? The guard wouldn't let us through the gate, even for $100.

[ericthecurdog]

bump

[lawgirl]

I hope they RESTORE her and not turn her into a floating velvet Elvis painting. I am a classic movie fan, and everytime someone in the movies makes a transatlantic crossing on one of these grand ladies I wish that I could go along. Preferably with Cary Grant of course. ;-D

Hmm....where did I put that copy of An Affair to Remember.........That movie featured the Constitution I believe- whatever happened to her?

[sjersey]

Here's a tour with plenty of pictures. SSUnitedStatesTour

[stationkeeper]

THIS will be one very expensive re-fit. IIRC, GE or LAVALL steam turbines turning 4 shafts......bunches of SHP and incredible top end that was never fully disclosed. All of this will have to be yanked and replaced with either diesel or gas turbine.

also think it is still quite infested with asbestos.

Heckuva project if they can pull it off.

[sjersey]

Here's more pictures - SSUS

[sinkspur]

These are real ocean liners.

Without balconied suites, and with the small number of rooms, these old ships will never be as popular as the newer liners. In addition, I just don't see how they expect to make money. The Hawaiian-island itinerary is NCL's idea; notice that Royal Caribbean, and Princess, and Celebrity have not followed. Cruise ships that sail inter-island are not allowed to operate their casinos when sailing between islands. The Independence was an old, worn-out vessel. NCL will just make it a newer, still-boring liner.

Besides, NCL is one of the lowest-rated lines in the latest Conde-Nast survey.

[budanski]

Back in the '80s everyone was against Japanese corporations from buying up american assets? Why arent Americans now boiled with the fact that the Europeans are the new threat? Burger King, Snapple, and Chrysler are a few that now un-american.