Que futuro para o UNITED STATES?

Comentários à decisão da Crystal Cruises acerca do paquete UNITED STATES. Este grande navio de passageiros americano, que navegou apenas durante 17 anos, de 1952 a 1969, é um exemplo de  desperdício e um testemunho de uma época de grandes mudanças nos transportes de longo curso, quando a quase totalidade dos passageiros passaram a utilizar os meios aéreos, relegando a maior parte dos paquetes de linha para fins prematuros, como o desmantelamento. Alguns navios dessa época conseguiram segundas vidas no mercado de cruzeiros, como sucedeu com o FRANCE, grande rival do UNITED STATES, ou com o CANBERRA, mas dezenas de navios de passageiros foram pura e simplesmente desactivados e vendidos, o que aconteceu à frota norte americana, como à italiana ou à portuguesa, de que só sobreviveu o FUNCHAL. Os tempos mudaram.

O UNITED STATES foi retirado do serviço regular no Atlântico Norte e do serviço de cruzeiros de inverno em Novembro de 1969 e desde então tem estado sempre imobilizado, apesar de diversas tentativas no sentido de o transformar em navio de cruzeiros, ao longo de todos estes anos. As esperanças voltam a focar-se agora num possível aproveitamento para uso estático, como museu, por exemplo.

From cruise expert Anne Kalosh and her excellent Seatrade Insider column: "Though the historic ocean liner SS United States is structurally sound, the technical and commercial challenges of reviving it as a cruise ship are 'insurmountable,' Crystal Cruises said following a six-month feasibility study.

The luxury line poured more than $1m into the study and professional evaluation of 'America's Flagship,' convening a world-class team of engineers and experts.

'Unfortunately, the hurdles that would face us when trying to bring a 65-year-old vessel up to modern safety, design and international regulatory compliance have proven just too great to clear in both a technically and commercially responsible manner,' Crystal president and ceo Edie Rodriguez said.

She had personally championed the project, calling the SS United States 'an icon, and so much a part of the American fabric and history,'

As a show of support for the vessel, Crystal will be donating $350,000 to aid in the SS United States Conservancy’s ongoing mission to save the ship. The Conservancy intends to resume its pursuit of stationary redevelopment opportunities.

'Disappointed but not surprised,' is how maritime historian and prolific author Bill Miller, known as 'Mr. Ocean Liner,' reacted to the announcement.

Crystal's decision makes sense, he told Seatrade Cruise News, in light of 'endless problems' to convert/transform a decades-old liner into a modern, efficient, marketable cruise ship.

'The ship itself, still waiting, will no doubt have further reprieves and be a part of varied projects—from hotel-casino to floating power station,' Miller predicted.

Poignantly, he added: 'Her last master, the late Leroy Alexanderson, adored the ship, but suggested, as far back as the early '90s, that she be taken out to sea and gently allowed to go under—the perfect grave for an extraordinary ship.'

The SS United States Conservancy indicated it will not give up.

'While it has been determined that Crystal’s exciting vision for the ship would have required overcoming various technical hurdles and major changes to her historic design, the studies performed have confirmed the ship is structurally sound,' Conservancy executive director Susan Gibbs said. She added: 'America’s Flagship continues to hold enormous potential as a stationary mixed-use development and museum in New York or another urban waterfront setting. The SS United States Conservancy remains deeply committed to saving this unique and powerful symbol of the nation’s strength, history and innovation.'"

Texto editado e comentado /Text and comments by L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

CRYSTAL CRUISES desiste do paquete UNITED STATES

A companhia de cruzeiros Crystal Cruises tornou pública a 5 de Agosto a sua decisão de desistir do projecto de compra e renovação do famoso paquete UNITED STATES. A Crystal informa que gastou cerca de um milhão de U.S. dollars em estudos e avaliação da condição actual do paquete e soluções associadas a uma possível modernização e reactivação do UNITED STATES como navio de cruzeiros. Reproduz-se em seguida o texto do comunicado da Crystal.

America’s Flagship Found Structurally Sound But Technical Challenges Prevent Her Return to Modern Seagoing Service - SS United States Conservancy Will Continue To Pursue Redevelopment Opportunities

LOS ANGELES, August 5, 2016 – Following an intensive, six-month evaluation, Crystal Cruises today determined that while the SS United States is structurally sound, the technical and commercial challenges associated with returning the historic liner to service as a modern cruise ship have unfortunately proven insurmountable. As a show of support for the vessel, Crystal Cruises will be making a significant donation of $350,000 to aid in the Conservancy’s ongoing mission to save the ship. The Conservancy intends to resume its pursuit of stationary redevelopment opportunities for America’s Flagship.

In February, Crystal and the SS United States Conservancy announced they had entered into an exclusive option agreement with the goal of converting the iconic 1950’s-era vessel into a modern, luxury cruise ship that would comply with all modern safety and technical standards – unprecedented for a single vessel refurbishment. Crystal commenced a comprehensive feasibility study and professional evaluation, convening a world-class team of engineers and experts while incurring over $1 million in costs.

“Over the past six months, Crystal has conducted an extensive feasibility study to restore 'America's Flagship' to oceangoing service. Unfortunately, the hurdles that would face us when trying to bring a 65-year-old vessel up to modern safety, design and international regulatory compliance have proven just too great to clear in both a technically and commercially responsible manner,” said Crystal President and CEO Edie Rodriguez.

“While it has been determined that Crystal’s exciting vision for the ship would have required overcoming various technical hurdles and major changes to her historic design, the studies performed have confirmed the ship is structurally sound,” said Susan Gibbs, Executive Director of the SS United States Conservancy. “America’s Flagship continues to hold enormous potential as a stationary mixed-use development and museum in New York or another urban waterfront setting. The SS United States Conservancy remains deeply committed to saving this unique and powerful symbol of the nation’s strength, history, and innovation.”

Led by retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Tim Sullivan, Crystal’s impressive team of maritime experts and engineers conducted numerous assessments on the ship in the Port of Philadelphia, where it has been docked for 20 years. The evaluation and testing included in-depth assessments of the ship's structural condition; underwater inspections of the hull by divers; the examination of her fuel and salt water ballasting tanks; and a series of intensive engineering studies to deduce what would be needed to bring her back into service.

Regrettably, the technical feasibility study concluded that while the ship is remarkably intact and structurally sound, modifying the ship for today’s standards for oceangoing service (SOLAS) would require significant changes to the hull that would pose stability challenges. Additionally, the installation of a modern, state-of-the-art diesel electric propulsion plant would have necessitated altering of the existing shaft lines and rebuilding about 25 percent of the hull to reconfigure the ship to a twin shaft-twin rudder arrangement. While it was known that the vessel would need to have been essentially rebuilt from the inside out, these specific challenges, among others, collectively posed significant risk to the success of the project.

“Our company has great affection for this historic and irreplaceable vessel, and we will be making a $350,000 donation which will help support the Conservancy preserve the vessel through the remainder of the year,” said Rodriguez. “We firmly believe the SS United Statesis an American treasure and deserves to be preserved and redeveloped as a stationary destination for future generations to experience and enjoy.”

The Conservancy will immediately restart its aggressive outreach to qualified developers and investors to secure the ship’s future, while continuing its ongoing mission to educate the public about the legacy of the vessel and building its museum collection and archives. A national reunion of former crewmembers and passengers is planned in Philadelphia on September 17.

“The Conservancy is deeply grateful to Crystal Cruises for recognizing the SS United States’ historic importance and for working so hard on the ship’s behalf,” said Gibbs. “I would also like to thank our members and supporters from across the country and around the world for their continued support. Together we will continue to work tirelessly to save America’s Flagship and honor the legendary liner’s legacy.”

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

CRYSTAL SERENITY outbound from Lisbon

Crystal Cruises flagship CRYSTAL SERENITY photographed underway outbound from Lisbon on 26 July 2012 sailing for Gibraltar after a three-day stay and turnaround.

CRYSTAL SERENITY is the more recent of three ships built for Crystal Cruises, the international cruise operation of the Japanese giant NYK Line. 

Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. Favor não piratear. Respeite o meu trabalho / No piracy, please. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

CRYSTAL SERENITY in Cape Town

Crystal Cruises flagship CRYSTAL SERENITY photographed in Cape Town by Ian Shiffman on 10 February 2010 on her long winter cruise.
Texto de /Text copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

CRYSTAL SERENITY in Lisbon 2009-06-13

The ultra-luxurious cruise ship CRYSTAL SERENITY called at Lisbon on 2009-06-11 and berthed at the Alcântara cruise terminal. Having arrived at about 5.30 AM, she departed at 6.00 PM in reasonable light, as can be observed from the photos.
Texto e imagens /Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

WHEN THE SHIPS MIX WITH THE CITY

Lisbon with their hills and port is the westernmost Atlantic city of Europe.
Here the great contemporary cruise ships like the CRYSTAL SERENITY (seen in the photos in May 2007) mix with the old quarters of Alfama while sailing past downtown Lisbon in and out to sea.
The ships always bring an extra charm to the old world Lisbon...
Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

CRYSTAL SERENITY in Lisbon 2007-05-07

We have added several new stunning photographs of the cruise ship CRYSTAL SERENITY sailing from Lisbon. Those photos were taken from the old quarters of Alfama in front of the Santa Apolónia cruise terminal and can be seen at our sister blog LISBON CRUISE SHIPS. Click here for a link.
Text and images copyright L.M.Correia. For other posts and images, check our archive at the right column of the main page. Click on the photos to see them enlarged. Thanks for your visit and comments. Luís Miguel Correia

CRYSTAL SYMPHONY em Lisboa

Aspectos do navio de cruzeiros CRYSTAL SYMPHONY (51.044 GT /construído em 1995 em Turku, Finlândia) a sair de Lisboa em 25-08-2006, após mais uma passagem pelo Tejo em cruzeiro do Norte da Europa para o Mediterrâneo. O CRYSTAL SYMPHONY é propriedade da companhia japonesa NYK Lines, considerada uma das maiores do mundo, sendo operado pela associada Crystal Cruises, de Los Angeles. O navio, bem como o CRYSTAL SERENITY (68.870 GT / 2003) posicionam-se no segmento ultra-de-luxo do mercado de cruzeiros, tendo de certa forma ocupado o lugar desenvolvido nos anos setenta e oitenta pela famosa Royal Viking Line.
CRYSTAL SYMPHONY IN LISBON

The cruise ship CRYSTAL SYMPHONY (51.044 GT /built 1995 at Turku, Finland) leaving Lisboa on 25-08-2006, while cruising from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean Sea. Owned by the Japanese giant company NYK Lines, the CRYSTAL SYMPHONY is operated by a subsidiary company, Crystal Cruises, based in Los Angeles. This fine ship and her running mate, the CRYSTAL SERENITY (68.870 GT / 2003) operate on the ultradeluxe segment of the cruise market and follow the style developed in the seventies and eighties by the famous Royal Viking Line.

Copyright photos by Luis Miguel Correia - 2006