SS United States: Ominous News - FU to Giant Wrench Thread - Headed for Scrapping?

[Don Kiyoti]

An unsettling followup to my recent thread about the giant wrench I purchased: http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,664843

"As of Feb. 10, 2009, Norwegian Cruise Lines/Star Cruises, the S.S. United States' Hong Kong-based owner, are preparing to sell America's national flagship to the highest bidder. Judging by the current economic climate, it appears that the most likely purchasers will be Chinese or Indian ship breakers. Right now, it appears that the ship has been transferred from NCL to a holding company."
http://www.planphilly.com/node/8106

See also:
http://ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/SSUS/blog/

I don't like the sound of this. Given the current world economy, it's difficult to imagine anyone stepping up with both the cash and the intent to restore or preserve the ship.

[MacArtist]

Our history, bought and sold. Sad.

[blusubaru]

I had never heard of this ship before until this post. The result was 45 minutes lost digging through the history via Google. Wow. Amazing that it hasn't been purchased and setup as a stationary hotel/casino somewhere. The last selling price was only around $2mil or so.

[Paul F.]

On the other hand;
The prices for scrap steel right now are in the toilet...
It would cost them more to move it to india/china than they could reap from it at the moment.

Let's hope the buyer decides they need a trans-atlantic or trans-pacific liner!

[The UnDoug]

Bummer. I'll be hoping for the best!

[cbelt3]

Paul- Scrap ALUMINUM. Still, it's not what it was. The SS US has been scrap-bait for decades.

[Don Kiyoti]

cbelt3, lots of aluminum, yes, but much more steel.