As per the latest updates to this thread (...thanks Vaccaro) it now looks like the sale of the Norway to the breakers may be off after a controversy over the amount of asbestos on the ship.

According to this article, Star Cruises, the owners of the ship have cancelled the sale to the scrappers because of a potential liability that could be as much as "tens of millions of dollars" if the ship is scrapped in it's current condition.

The saga continues, what's next?

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Originally posted by joe at travelpage:
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The saga continues, what's next?

Joe at TravelPage.com

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I can envision Star towing the NORWAY someplace to have the asbestos removed (as was done with the UNITED STATES.) Only this time it might be more expedient to have the ship accidentally sink en route. Cheaper, less fuss and bother, and a white elephant off their hands.

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

[....] and a white elephant off their hands.[...]

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The S/S Norway's sale to an Indian scraper was just cancelled...

more informations/photos/links...: http://wwW.LeGlaneur.info in French...

or in english: translate.googl e.com/.../wwW.LeGlaneur.info

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Pascal wrote:
I just hope now that some one buy this ship for something else than her steel. I know it's quite unlikely, but at least we can still hope.

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Well, besides her ending up in a scrap yard, there's sinking her as a reef, converting her into a floating or grounded hotel/casino, dormitory or hospital, or returning her to being just a plain old cruise ship.

I think if Star lowers the price even more, someone who has passion will buy her, and not for scrap.

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Originally posted by bulbousbow:

I think if Star lowers the price even more, someone who has passion will buy her, and not for scrap.

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Waynaro wrote:
Maybe Star Cruises can "donate" her to an organization and get a tax write-off.

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To somebody like Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) or the Red Cross, yes, but not to someone who will start a cruise line.

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I've got a great idea!
Why not turn the SS Norway into a 'state of the art' cruise ship just like the SS United States is going to be.

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The group was urging everyone to contact Star and beg them to sell the ship to the Dutch group. I wonder where the Dutch group is now?

Joe at TravelPage.com

[ 01-20-2006: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

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Originally posted by moodus2:
ncl should have had ss norway

sinking a contaminated ship is
against the maritime law and
ncl could be held liable.

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Recall oil containment booms around the Angelino Lauro when she burned and sank. The QE1 also spilled oil too. If SSNorway were to sink in 10,000 ft of water I would hate to think what toxins would float to the surface?

It might be time that NCL dieselize her, and run her X-Atlantic or X-Pacific with the winter NWA hull and 15,000 mile range w/o refueling.

NCL would have to remove the visual toxin aka the Sports Bar and the 1980's interior disaster.

white elephant
2 something from which little profit or use is derived; esp., such a possession maintained at much expense
3 any object no longer desired by its owner, but of possible value to others

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...any object no longer desired by its owner, but of possible value to others

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I like this definition of white elephant much better. Thanks for pointing it out desirod7.

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Originally posted by joe at travelpage:
What I find interesting is that last week - prior to the announcement of the reprieve - I was being bombarded by e-mails from some group that said they had a Dutch buyer ready to buy the ship but that the deal with the scrapper prevented the ship from being sold to anyone else.

The group was urging everyone to contact Star and beg them to sell the ship to the Dutch group. I wonder where the Dutch group is now?

Joe at TravelPage.com

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Here's the email:

email : enorya@neuf.fr
Message : CAUTION / EMERGENCY : To S/S NORWAY, EX FRANCE LOVERS.

A Dutch Man is ready to purchase the vessel. He has the money.

There is a huge problem : STAR CRUISES sold the vessel end of December, the fales contract stipulated that the scaper is not permitted to resell the ship to a non scraper.
Let's all get together and flood STAR CRUISE for a last try to save the vessel , with the following email to send to :

NCL MIAMI to the PRESIDENT COLIN VEITCH : cveitch@ncl.com

STAR CRUISE MALAISIA VICE PRESIDENT GERARD LIM :

gerardlim@starcruises.com.my and secretariat louisatam@starcruises.com.hk
The Vice President Corporate communication of Star Cruises Mrs Jane Poh : sjpoh@starcruises.com.my

" PLEASE DO SAVE THE SS NORWAY, ex FRANCE " 

" PLEASE DO SAVE THE NORWAY "
"Please withdraw the interdiction to resell the NORWAY to an non scraper allowing NORWAY a new life "

Association + For The Steamship France ;.

Michel Perrin.

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