QE2 IN DUBAI 2010 : NEW VIDEO

This is exclusive video LIVE! From Dubai where we see the QE2 docked in her berth awaiting her uncertain fate.

Yes the QE2 has been a visible Icon among the alien landscape of Dubai ,
un-noticed and forgotten by many since she was decommissioned in November of 2008.

Maintained by a small crew daily ,
she's under the heaviest of Security ,no visitors are allowed to tour her.

Luckily one of our reporters was lucky enough to get close to her and take this video of her pier side.

The QE2 exterior wise is in good condition ,
she had a close call when her moorings broke & she almost hit another ship ,
thanks to the valiant and heroic efforts of the tugs she narrowly avoided a collision with the other ship.

SS France / Norway Memorial PT 1

This is a memorial of the grand liner SS France / Norway .

This month as we celebrate the saving of the SS United States from the hands of NCL / Star cruises , we remember the great fallen liners who could not share the same fate as those that are now saved for future generations to enjoy and look upon.

The SS France was the last ship of state for the Nation of France , at a time when the great liners were fading into history.

She was reborn into the SS Norway and thus she not only was the last of her kind but was reborn as the forerunner of today's modern super cruise liners.

This slide show contains rare photographs from her first years of service to her final years of service ,
including her Dry docking at Newport News Shipyard .

She was a marvel to look upon by all ,
now she is gone forever , a crime it was for her to die at the godforsaken beaches of Alang , India where many fine liners have meet their un-dignified end.

Let us remember her in her days of glory so we may save what surviving liners are left in the world and rebuild our lost era of stream lined and majestic wonders of the shipping industry.

Flashback : SS Norway / France : Final Caribbean Cruise 2003

This is archive video taken by a passenger aboard the SS Norway in 2003 ,
this was her final Caribbean cruise under her own power before her infamous boiler explosion shortly after she returned to Miami.

She was then taken out of service and ultimately decommissioned from the NCL fleet.
This video is a memorial to the final days of the SS Norway owned by NCL the company infamously known for her sale and destruction along with the SS Independence in 2010.

The SS United States thankfully has been saved from the same undignified fate as the 2 storied ships had in their final years.

Shame they could not had been preserved for future generations ,
let us remember them and fight to save what remains of the golden era of cruise travel.

New York Harbor Arrival : Summer 2010

Carnival Glory , Caribbean princess, Norwegian dawn arrivals to New York Harbor Summer 2010.

QE2 Avoids disaster in Dubai!

Apparently was a vicious sand storm this morning in Dubai and the once great liner MS Queen Elizabeth 2 broke loose from her moorings and drifted out into the channel, she came perilously close to colliding with another ship when two brave pilots managed to get her under control with all the tugs they could muster. 












































It seems that she is OK, but I was told that “If she'd hit another ship or the key, her owner's probably would have written her off rather than repair the damage as Nakeel are in so much debt anyway. So it really was a close one for the old dame.” This news update came from a supporter based in Dubai.

This is grave news for all of us QE2 lover for we all know , had the QE2 had collided with the other vessel it would have accelerated the process of disposing of the vessel, which is always denied by the current owners, but still more urgently to echo among the more experienced fans of the old lady.
It's sad to know that the QE2 , once the pride of the Cunard Line sits abandoned in Dubai awaiting an uncertain future.


Our founder Ms.Rosalba saw the QE2 three times at the port of Dubai, each time
only getting worse ,
we now have a new lady in waiting halfway around the world.


The SS United States , which was decommissioned the same year QE2 came into service has now been saved by a philanthropic organization after many 
years of abuse and neglect.

Will anyone stand up and fight to save the QE2 from further decay or will she suffer the same fate as many grand liners have at the hands of the scrappers in Alang , India ?


No one knows which is why we must keep the word out and unite to save our 2nd lady in waiting.

SS United States National Celebration event 7/1/2010 : A year in review PT 1

This is our special feature in celebration of the news we have just heard of the Conservancy's announcement that they are purchasing the SS United States thus saving her from destruction at the hands of the scrappers to be lost forever.






This is a victorious moment for us all ,
let us all give the conservancy cheers and all o
f our full support for this effort would not have been possible if it were not for the many hands and people who have and continue to serve this valiant cause.
 
Yet as we've said , the battle is not over yet still millions is needed for her full restoration and for her to be reborn to her glory as a museum and a center for peace.

 

I last year was one of the lucky few who was able to have access with the great vessel behind the gates and up close and personal to feature my report to a world audience on Maritime Matters eye witness report section.






I did a full photographic survey of the ship's exterior ,
as I stated she is dire need of repairs and in serious decay after decades of neglect at the hands of many who did not care for her true value as the flagship of the US Merchant marine and as the fastest passenger ship ever built by an American ship yard.

"She is the last and only of her kind left in the world."

2 years in review :

It seems like only yesterday when back in 2008 , I attended a special meeting in New York where Mark Perry gave a speech on the situation of the ship and screened the documentary to the attendees.


It was there I started doing coverage on the conservancy's events and became a supporter of their great cause , now in 2011 they have struck a monumental victory in their long and hard battle to save our forgotten flagship from further decay .
I remember looking on youtube at a few videos of the SS United States and seeing crazy comments from people whom called the cause hopeless and said to give it up and scrap the illustrious ship , a shame how some have lost hope and the ignorance of those.

The truth is that what makes this mission so challenging is that the general  American public of today does not know of the existence of the SS United States , a forgotten monument she has become among the modern general public.
She is only known by the people who remember her from the past generations and those who have kept in touch with maritime history and who have followed up with current events .

Our mission now is to let the general public know of her and to ensure she has a bright future.



7/1/2010 Continued :
As the day progressed I witnessed the main ceremonies go underway and the crowds greeting Mr.Lenfest , the Mayor and all the top officials present .

Old friends from the IKEA Store , it had been a year since we last meet at the last event at IKEA in 2009

You could feel the joyous feeling in the air as many happy people celebrated and gathered in unity for this special once in a lifetime celebration ,
the crowds gathered in greater numbers as the sun set upon us all for the lighting of her funnels and bridge as nightfall came .





It was  a magical event as the crowd cheered and ran to snap photos and video, I witnessed it all yet an event of  unsurpassed beauty and awe was before me as the day came to an end & the dawn of a new one rose .

The people gather in the hundreds as the sun sets.

Mark Perry & a friend of his.

 

Proud supporters wearing the famous don't give up the ship T-Shirts!

Overnight stay / 11pm-5:00 am est :
It was approx 4:30 am , I had stayed overnight in Philly to enjoy the rest of the night in the downtown section  , afterward I landed at a 24/7 diner blocks away from the Penn's landing site where I dined for a much needed fresh cup of coffee and to try out  a bowl of genuine French Onion soup.

The DINER.

I stayed and rested after all the action that had happened from the celebration and my major trek from New York the previous day also took it's toll on me ,
I watched the news on the TV as the morning news anchors announced coverage of yesterdays celebration back at the IKEA store ,
the waitress of the diner saw my anchor shirt and my white jacket as a clear sign where I had just come from , 
I told the waitress of my travels and made it a long story short .
I remember the waitresses as they looked at me so curious and fascinated at the topic in the wee hours of the night.
All I can say is Philly has it's crazy magic indeed.
as I watched the news you heard the usual bad news and local news .... the feeling was that of being on another planet sitting in a 24/7 hide out among all the travelers , truckers , drifters and tourists whom were dining there after a long night either partying or just visiting .

Then the report came on the 5:00 am news ,
timeless as it was everyone looking at the SS United States as word spread of the Conservancy's valiant efforts to save the local monument as the ship has become since her arrival to Philadelphia in 1996.
I of course pulled out my camera to record it all for it will never come again , a moment in time so classic it was.

As the blue yet haze and morning summer sun  rose over Philly at the crack of dawn , I ventured off back to the SS United States to witness a once in a lifetime moment ,
it was the first sunrise she had after the announcement of her saving from the scrappers by the Conservancy.

The summer sunrise was amazing , so beautiful as the light shined upon the great ship as the wind blew and her American flag graced her mast in the sun light.

I was snapping away awed by the sight I was witnessing ,
it was 5:30 am I was the only soul on the streets just myself and the cars passing as I was capturing a once in a lifetime sight the world has never seen and would never see unless I captured it there as the sun rose over Philly and the SS United States , our lady in waiting who has been given a second chance at life and has survived over half a century since she was built by Gibbs & Cox ,
Gibb's finest creation shined in the light as a testament to American industry and modern shipbuilding.

The lovely Susan Gibbs aboard the SS United States.

As a reporter , it is a great honor to serve the cause along side Ms.Susan Gibbs and the Conservancy to save her Grandfathers legacy and to restore her to her former glory.


As the sun rose , the sun's golden rays shined on her superstructure ,
her true form awakened and illuminated , even in her decayed state she is still a marvel to look upon and to cherish.

In front of our "Lady in  in waiting."

Sunrise as the flag flies proudly.

Majestic sunrise.

I kept snapping away taking as many shots as I could , I then took a few video clips of everything unfolding before me ,
after it was done it was time to bid her farewell until the next time I visited Philly to see another historic ship in peril , the USS Olympia the oldest
cruiser still afloat in the world.
 

 

She has not been dry docked since the 40's and is in dire need of repair ,
it is easy to say Philadelphia is the city home to many of the most illustrious ships in waiting including the USS John F Kennedy docked in the Navy facility not too far from Penn's landing.



As I departed Penn's landing I looked upon the Big U one last time then I set off.

It was a beautiful day for all of us ,
yet what I had was history to be remembered for the ages , a new history that was recorded for the world to see and enjoy.

Now I see the end result , the ship's future we can say is bright but as we've said many times the battle is not over yet .. we still have more challenges to face int he coming months.

I am calling upon all supporters to lend a hand to the conservancy for the final restoration of the SS United States.

Farewell everyone ,

that's all for now.

Stay tuned for more news here on Liveboat USA.

Byron Huart signing

off!

Special Thanks to the SS United States Conservancy

for everything and making this all possible.

SS United States is Saved! SS United States Conservancy announces purchase of the nation's flagship

In a long-anticipated milestone in the effort to save and redevelop the legendary ocean liner SS United States, the SS United States Conservancy has announced that it will purchase the nation's historic "ship of state." Full details on this major development will be disclosed at a press briefing scheduled for Tuesday, February 1, at 3 p.m., EST at IKEA South Philadelphia, across Columbus Boulevard from the liner.



"We are one big step closer to ensuring that this great symbol of American innovation is permanently preserved," said Susan Gibbs, the Conservancy's board president, whose grandfather, William Francis Gibbs, designed the legendary liner. "Now that we have secured title, we will accelerate our efforts to redevelop the nation's flagship as a multi-purpose waterfront destination with dynamic hotel, retail, educational and museum offerings. To succeed, we will tap into the same "can-do" spirit and ingenuity that the ship has embodied since her first splash in 1952."

In July 2010, the Conservancy announced a pledge of $5.8 million by Philadelphia philanthropist H. F. "Gerry" Lenfest to purchase and maintain the vessel for 20 months. Owners Norwegian Cruise Line/Genting Hong Kong entered an exclusive purchase option with the Conservancy last year, graciously declining a bid twice as high from a vessel scrapper, in order to support the Conservancy's efforts. The Conservancy is deeply grateful to both Gerry Lenfest and NCL/Genting for their support.



Lenfest underscored the importance of the ship by stating, "She is worth keeping. This ship is an iconic part of American maritime history and if there's any chance at all that she can be saved, we should take that chance." Lenfest is a retired Navy Reserve captain and major maritime enthusiast whose father, a naval architect, designed components of the SS United States. He has been a visionary in his support for the ship.



"This is the first time in the history of the SS United States that a group concerned primarily with the vessel's historical significance and preservation has owned her," said Dan McSweeney, the Conservancy's executive director. "We can't truly say she's saved yet - that will happen when we establish a successful partnership to redevelop the ship - but we can say that we're generating the right momentum to be able to achieve that goal. Thus far, New York, Philadelphia, and Miami have expressed an interest in the vessel. The total cost could be a couple of hundred million dollars but that's comparable to land-based development on a similar scale. We're completely committed to accomplishing this and there's no question that we'll succeed."



The vessel was launched in 1952 and is widely considered the greatest ocean liner ever built. Four U.S. presidents (Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Clinton) and countless foreign heads of state, business, military, and diplomatic leaders, Hollywood celebrities, and everyday Americans traveled aboard her during 400 mishap-free voyages. Thousands of immigrants to America sailed aboard the vessel, which served in the Navy Reserve Fleet as a convertible troop ship and Cold War weapon able to carry an army division 10,000 miles without refueling.



"We're in a race against time," said Gibbs. "The Conservancy has just launched a $1 million fundraising campaign, and we've been encouraged by the enthusiastic response to date from around the nation, and indeed the world. These funds will provide crucial support for our historic preservation activities as well as help us address certain environmental remediation issues. The good news is that many of the original materials used in the ship's construction have already been removed."



The Conservancy thanks Francis X. Nolan, III, a New York based partner in the Global Transportation Finance Practice at the law firm of Vedder Price P.C., and Christopher L. Bell, a Washington, D.C. based partner in the Global Environmental Practice of the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP, without whom this transaction would not have happened. Frank was central to the successful negotiation of the complicated contracts and other documents necessary to our success. Chris led the effort on the environmental side, including complex discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and working closely with our technical consultants. This work was all done pro bono, and we thank Frank and Chris, and their firms, for their hard work and significant contributions to this effort.

This is Breaking news here LIVE from New York City ,
we will be having our continuing coverage of this remarkable and beautiful news
here on Liveboat USA.

This is Reporter
Byron Huart signing off!