A nice idea - economics need consideration though.
Anyway back to the Blue Lady - Peter Knego or anyone with the contacts to get photographs - is there any chance of seeing the other side of the ship or a photo of the bow/stern in its current state?
I understand that Pryia Blue are not going to want such intrusion, but these photo's need to be taken for a fair balanced account of this venerable liner for future generations.
Pjswansea
" Le paquebot France est lancé. Il va épouser la mer. (...) Sa mission sera de transporter d'un bord à l'autre de l'Atlantique des hommes, c'est-à-dire des pensées et des activités, des foyers de connaissance et des sources de travail, de l'art et de la richesse."
Général De Gaulle, le 11 mai 1960
Posts: 206 | Location: Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom | Registered: November 21, 2006
If indeed FRANCE were ever re-created, I can't imagine that interior similarities to the original would make any sense whatever. I also think it would be hard to sell the public on a ship whose exterior appearance onjectives precluded balconies and the superstructural height required therefor.
My idea of a twin sister to the SS France is to create a decour that would exceed it, in terms of interior decour. It would be the 1960's version of the SS Normandie. I am not trying to reinvent the wheel. Just to come up with a style that would be the futuristic 1960's world of tomarrow design. Also, the vessel is largely a museum/hotel. It would not sail as a cruise ship on a regular basis. As of the baconies, I don't believe they are a standard requirement because that's a chioce of the cruise ship companies. The sister ship to the SS France could be named the MS Ill De France.
This vessel will fall in the Queen Mary/SS Rotterdam V category, which are permanently docked ships. But has the ability to sail on ocassion.
For the time being, I doubt that anyone will follow my idea to begin with. However,there are three other vessels that comes to my mind as well, which as as follows:
TS Michaelangelo RMS Britannic TS Normanidie
The three ships mentioned would have a twin sister that's near identical to each of them, as far as exterior appearance is concerned. However, each vessel would have vastly different interiors and modern naval/maritime technology that would exceed its predecessors. This way, a guest would feel as though they are stepping back in time. The cabin spaces would follow a modern lay out regarding luxury and service.
I believe that the static museum industry will do quite well, as long as the ships are placed in the right areas where the people will appreciate them. And no one can say that the ships mentioned are imitations, because they would be far from that.
I love your idea! When I was thinking of a replica, I wasn't thinking of a sailing one either. I think that would be hard to realize (sadly). I think a static sister ship of the France could be realized, if the money is there..and Dubai has the money. Sister ships to those other ships would be nice too! Normandie was such a beautiful liner and she had such a short life, so it would be nice to have a static sister ship of her. That would be a nice tribute.
let's not forget, the Indian supreme court ruled 'nothing shall be removed from the vessel' Wonder how they got all that steel down below if it's still on board!!
Does anyone know when the Supreme court is next sitting in relation to the Norway?
Posts: 39 | Location: Dorset, UK | Registered: December 06, 2007
Originally posted by Derf: Sad indeed! ...put paid to the myth that dubai are buying the funnels...
Derf...
Although a longshot...I'm guessing the funnels, if bought, would not be lifted off the ship in one piece. They would be dismantled, crated. then shipped. The funnel would then be reassembled at the destination point.
Like I said...I'm being VERY optimistic here.
If you start seeing pieces of the hull dissapearing....THAT would be the end of the so-called Dubai (part 2) myth. If bought...one would think the hull would be towed in one piece.
Funny....I remember a post dozens and dozens of pages back (around the time she was beached) when someone said people will still be in denial when parts of her are falling into the water as a result of the breaker's torch. I guess everyone here knows the reality of the situation by now...and our only hope now is that pieces of her make it out of there to be historical examples of an era gone by.
Posts: 79 | Location: Long Island, New York | Registered: December 30, 2005
MercuryQueen and MinotauronMauretania also Phil in England-
This is a warning to stop posting political commentary and insulting another country's government. This forum is not the place for it and it will not be tolerated.
If the bashing of the Indian court system continues, we may be forced to shut down the thread. Please don't make us do that.
It's probably a bit late to sound alarmist, but i've been looking closely at the latest picture from Alang, not withstanding the low tide, her stern (rudder & props) are sitting higher out of the water. In previous photos, the rudder seemed to be partially sunk in the mud. Has she been dragged further up the beach?
Further evidence discreditting the Dubai plan??
Posts: 39 | Location: Dorset, UK | Registered: December 06, 2007
the forward funnel is half "eaten" now... I saw the picture on reve de france... The France was called 'le mal-aimé', not sure how to translate it well; "the ill loved" ? anyway, he has had a strange destiny.
I may be really behind on this, yet were there not plans for a CGT museum or collection in Le Havre? IMO, that would be the best place to showcase the history of SS France and her predecessors.
