posted 05-06-2000 07:25 PM                   

My God, I think posting this stupid picture took as long as launching the original ship herself. I ended up having to do this on my own, but here it is...

I am NOT a marine architect, as you can probably guess, but I have a good imagination, and this is what I hope she ends up looking like. I envision them either reconstructing the entire superstructure, or adding on to the existing one. Also, to comply with SOLAS, the lifeboats should be moved down one deck. See, I even included balcony cabins (about 60, I think), as well as penthouse suites nestled around the stacks on the uppermost deck, behing the observation lounge.

I would paint her hull blue, the same color as the US flags' blue. Her superstructure would be white, and the lifeboats red (a color which also complies w/SOLAS I think, most ships today have red boats. The flag you see in between the lifeboats is actually an atrium, with the glass painted in the colors of the flag. Because of her military hull design, the atrium would be restricted to the 2-3 decks in her superstructure. There would be two pools aft of the second funnel. I think the funnels should be left alone, perhaps even raised, a la LIBERTE', with a patriotic motif. The Statue of Liberty seems like a good idea, but William Penn or maybe even Mount Rushmore, or an American eagle motif would work. The huge portholes underneath the lifeboats would be for lounges, showrooms, restaurants, etc. And all the way at the stern, I would place a smoking lounge, so we would not have to worry about smelling cigar and cigarette smoke. I would also hope that they would experiment with gas turbine power, to alternate with her original turbines. The electric lights spelling out her name would be powered by solar energy too.

Well, what do you all think? I know it ain't high art, but it comes from the heart, I love her too...

[This message has been edited by Rex (edited 05-06-2000).]

posted 05-07-2000 10:59 AM                       

DAMBROSI, I was just in Miami yesterday
and I went aboard the Norway. I thought she
looked pretty good, considering what
many people have said about her looking run down. I didn't like the new, fake, deck
aft where the pool is, but I noticed
that many shipbuilders are using this
material for some of the decks on their
newbuilds. I did not like the plastic
grating decking that was used on one of her upper decks. I guess the funnels painted all blue is interesting, but I'm not sure I like the big NCL logo painted on the funnels. I went up to the top of the crows nest to get a picture.

posted 05-07-2000 09:00 PM                   

But the truth is, we are running out of time, and eventually the ship will be too old for any kind of renovation.

posted 05-08-2000 12:29 AM                   

i would expect to have it about 12 inches long.
sorry i don't have the computer to send an image to you when finished.

posted 05-08-2000 05:05 PM                   

[This message has been edited by Rex (edited 05-09-2000).]

posted 05-12-2000 07:59 AM                

Hope you like.

posted 10-28-2003 07:57 AM                   

Greetings!

The SS United States Foundation is still working hard on behalf of our
national flagship! As you know, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) purchased the
ship last April. Many of you have requested more information about NCL's
plans for the ship. NCL is now focused on the launch of its US-flagged
operation in Hawaii; work is not planned on the SS United States in the
short term. We promise to keep our membership closely informed as NCL's
plans develop. Many of you have expressed your desire to be with us when we
charter a boat to be on hand for the ship's move out of Philadelphia's Pier
82. Please be assured that we will provide plenty of lead time and hope
many of you will join us for this historic event! In the meantime, the SS
United States Foundation will continue to educate the press and the public
on the ship's historic importance, collect and disseminate recollections and
images from the ship's glory days, and work to insure that the ship's legacy
is preserved and promoted. We will not rest until we hear the ship's
whistles blast on voyage 401!


Coming Events:

The SS United States Foundation is organizing a Mid-Atlantic "State of the
Ship" meeting that will draw together preservationists, maritime
specialists, journalists, former passengers and crew and others to celebrate
the ship and review preservation priorities and opportunities. (Date TBD)

The Foundation's Florida Chapter will host a launch event in the coming
months in conjunction with the opening of a fabulous new exhibit on historic
liners in the Port of Palm Beach. For more information, contact Greg
Norris, Florida Chapter Chair at greg33418@hotmail.com.


Recent Press:

Two feature articles on the SS United States and William Francis Gibbs
written by Gerard DeFlitch ran in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Sunday
edition magazine on September 28. To read the article, see:
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/living/focusmagizine/s_156463.htm
l

Cruise Week editor Mike Driscoll wrote an article based on a recent trip
aboard the SS United States. To read the article, see:
http://www.cruise-week.com/cw10twentwo03.pdf

The Fall 2003 issue of Cruise Industry News ran a special section on
shipbuilding and repair which included a piece on the SS United States. For
information on how to purchase the publication, see
http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/quarterly.asp

Cruise Travel's Theodore Scull also wrote a piece about the "Big U" in the
magazine's September/October 2003 issue. For subscription information, see
http://www.cruisetravelmag.com/cttoc.html

USA Today is planning a major piece on the SS United States and recently
sent a camera crew aboard the vessel to document the ship's interiors and
exteriors. The newspaper plans extensive coverage of the ship's
transformation.

A Paris-based television production company, Zeaux Productions, is producing
a major documentary on the Blue Riband and will feature extensive coverage
of the SS United States. For information on the company, see
http://zeaux.free.fr/en/zeaux.htm


Reminder

We are continuing to collect contact information on former passengers and
crew from the SS United States. If you know anyone who has shared some
history with the Big U and who is not receiving our updates, please pass on
the word! Foundation President Susan Gibbs is particularly interested in
interviewing people who spent time aboard the ship and remember her
grandfather, SS United States designer William Francis Gibbs. Please don't
hesitate to contact her at sgibbs@ssunitedstates.org.

We are preparing an end of year mailing to our full membership. If your
mailing address has changed, please send any updates to
rhwestover@ssunitedstates.org and sgibbs@ssunitedstates.org.

The Foundation still depends on donations and membership renewals, and we
thank you in advance for your support. Membership forms can be downloaded
from the Foundation website and member dues can be mailed or submitted
electronically via PayPal.


Thank you for your ongoing support and long live the SS United States!

The Board of Directors
SS United States Foundation
Box 853
Washington, DC 20011
www.ssunitedstates.org
www.ss-united-states-west.com

posted 10-28-2003 12:41 PM                    

tyler

posted 10-29-2003 01:09 PM                   

I tried, dude, but I cannot.