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Oceanic had plans to return the liner to the San Francisco waterfront and convert it to a classy 300 room hotel with period decor. Apparently the Port Commission was also excited by the project. (There is much tourist-related development along the Embarcadero lately. Pac Bell baseball stadium is the grandest example.)
Sadly, the rising prices for scrap coming out of yards in India and Bangladesh, coupled with a discontinuation of finacial backing with no other party stepping into the void, led to the present situation.
Says officer Christopher Kyte of Oceanic," You would think that in the Bay Area, with all those dot-com zillionaires, someone would step forward."
Says the Chronicle, "By the end of the week, the Lurline will be towed out to sea on a 101 day voyage into oblivion."
A sad day, almost ineluctable for almost all the old liners (and this one was very old, 1932)but hopes to see this classic one saved at Frisco was really a good thing. After all, we can at least try to save few little ones no?A sad day...
This ship survived the scrappers once maybe she can do it again !
But please understand, I'm doubly disappointed because I hate to see a lovely vessel go to the breakers and I was excited to see Lurline against the skyline of my hometown.
( her company gone, her fittings sold, her nameless hull rusted, all that's left is her keel plate to be lifted like when laid, all to be melted for a shiny can to hold beans).
I can only hope that after I open a can of beans that it was once the Britanis or Canberra, but again I do not recycle....
Ğraikar
You have a lot of nerve casting stones at the the officers of the Oceanic Group when you have absolutely NO idea what has taken place and the vast sums of money the Oceanic Group expended; much of it personal funds; to pay for the upkeep, insurance and berthing fees for the ship.
This project was the cause of many sleepless nights, numerous and expensive business trips and endless meetings with investors, enviromental authorities, designers and the SFO Port Commission.
Truth be told, and this befuddles me to no end, it seems that investors would much rather invest their money in "dot-coms" which will most likely fail than a hotel project in SFO, where you can't get a hotel room much less a reasonably priced one. A year ago, there were investors on the hook but legal snafus slowed the project down.
So, before you criticize those involved with the project and accuse them of being lazy or complacent, I suggest you try raising millions upon millions of dollars for a project such as this! Exactly what have YOU done to try and save this ship??
--Tim
It has upset a lot of people, not to mention those involved with the project.
This ship consumed a lot of time, effort and money and now it seems all for naught. Mr Kyte and I had many, many discussions and in his opinion and mine, was a "sure thing". We most recently discussed this over dinner and it's mind boggling that no one wants to fund a hotel project in SFO. You cant get a hotel room in that city and on the rare occasion you can, it costs an arm and a leg to stay at.
Suffice it to say that all invlved in the project are extremely upset at the outcome and this is indeed a very sad and tragic turn of events.
If plans for her conversion to a hotel in San Francisco progress, there is still about 30 days to get the ship turned around... Lets hope that happens. Here is a photo of her....
Remember it's Monterey, Matsonia, Lurline,Britanis.....in that order....
Here is some facts about her, i do not know if they are correct
Built 1931 Bethlehem Shipbuilding, Quincy Tonnage 18,665 Dimensions 632 x 79 ft (192.6 x 24.2m) Propulsion Turbines/Twin Screw Speed 20 Knots Service 1932-41 Matson Line - MONTEREY1941-46 US Maritime Commission - Troopship1957-63 Matson Lines - MATSONIA1963-70 Matson Lines - LURLINE1970-97 Chandris Lines - BRITANIS
Capacity 1932-41 701 (Total) 472 (First) 229 (Tourist)1941-42 2950 (Troopship)1942-46 3841 (Troopship)1957-71 761 (First Class only)1971-97 1655 (One Class)
try starting here http://www.maritimematters.com/matsonliners2.html
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