I went to the site www.revedefrance.com,
On it the goup claims to have 70% of the funds
needed to save the norway, Is this true?
I hope it is, if you go to this link you can see the statement. http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr?doit=done&u...france.com/&lp=fr_en
I hope this is true and not a pipe dream.

Here is the text,

http://www.revedefrance.com/nouvellepage1646.htm

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Raoul Fiebig,

ryguy1718,

I'm sorry to say this, but Mr Huard has a huge record of fallen through projects and could IMHO even be called a con man. Everything he has put his hands on over the years has failed. He claimed to have purchased the "Norway" some years ago and only backed out of saying so when NCL threatened to sue him as they had never even heard of him!

Some years earlier he planned to have a new "Titanic" built and so on.

As much as I would love to see the "Norway" finding a new home, I must warn everybody to not donate any money as far as this gentleman is concerned. I have also replaced the quoted text from your posting with a direct link to the relevant site.

But again, anybody must be warned that this is more than likely not a serious enterprise!

Thanks for the info,
I am sorry to hear that.
His idea sounds ok it just needs someone to carry it out . Are there any real persons
looking at the Norway, besides scrapers?
I hope so.

guys i just want to say that i was on the norway when she blew up in may of 2003,it was a little frightining but as a lover of ocean liners i would still go on her again. the whole week long cruise was great till the morning we were getting off. what i wanted to say was the ship was in great condition when i was there and seeing how that was the last time she sailed there shoulnt be to much where and tear on the interior... infact the whole week the crew was doing allot of work to norway... some of the things i saw them doing included new carpet on lower decks, our party had 5 rooms in all and they were a little out dated but they where clean...and in good shape. they were painting all the railings on the out side decks , painting the blue on the ship itself. almost all of the public rooms where nice. So i dont agree with some of the things that people say about totel refurbishment of the ship ... if anyone continues to operate her they would be smart to keep the classic look,as i thought it was beautifll she probly just needs some minor work and repairs and a fresh coat of paint along with the engine problems... when i was on her she was sold out.. if ncl can do it so can someone else can to keath u have the right idea except for the shape of the vessel..... one more thing i was on her 3 years earlier and she was in better shape in may of 2003 so ncl must have been putting some kind of money into her and im sure she was cared for in bremerhaven. so take it for what its worth.

For some good news, check out the re-painting of the Rotterdam in Cadiz, Spain: www.ssrotterdam.net. It's GREAT to watch one classic liner come back to life.

emcmd,

the "Rotterdam's" progress looks almost too good to be true. I have closely followed her progress over the last two years or so, and I cannot tell how extremely pleased and happy I am that she is on the very best way to find a permanent home in the city she is named after.

Yes, the Rotterdam looks splendid, Raoul. Assuming that the plan continues to go forward as anticipated. this is one lucky ship. My wife sailed on the Rotterdam's maiden voyage in 1959, so she is special to us. My only actual experience with her was a visit aboard in NY in 1980, when casual visitors were still allowed to board in exchange for a contribution to the seaman's fund. I am grateful for even this limited contact.
Regards, Bob

I was originally hesitant to reply negatively to Mr. Houard's announcement...I had previously been in contact with him. Though we could unfortunately not come to a meeting
of minds when it comes to power plant, market demand for transatlantic service, etc..., I believed his attempt to purchase Norway to be sincere. After all, Star is still trying to find a way to scrap Norway while bypassing the legal consequences of doing so. I hope their lawyers suck, by the way.

In any case, I do believe that Norway in the hands of anyone but Star is an improvement, unless that anyone is Alang Steel merchants of course. But I don't believe that Mr. Houard's plan will be successful because 1) there is no indication of a demand for transatlantic sea service between Quebec & Le Havre, at least that I know of, 2) a diesel conversion would prevent the ship from being as competitive as it could be, and finally 3) canadian registration would negate the ship's substantial operational advantages, as well as Title XI loan guarantees, available only under the US Flag.

Also, I think one of the most important aspects of any eventual multi-million dollar rebuilding must be maximizing as much possible revenue-generating volume inside the hull and within the existing superstructure. This means utilizing forward engine room space, which will be impossible under a 4-prop diesel electric power plant scenario due to the equipment's size. A hybrid steam/Gas turbine plant would allow for this, and the substantial increase in revenue-generation would more than make up for the higher fuel costs. So in that aspect, I think his plan is wrong because it relies on fuel/revenue calculations of Panamax vessels, which does not apply to Norway as her hull is well above the 955-ft length limitation and, thus, has more space to work with.

Lastly, I'll just say that relying on French-Canadian Transatlantic service is really betting on the outermost fringes of that projected 4.5% cruise industry increase in 2006. I've said it before and I'll say it again: THE TRANSATLANTIC FERRY IS DEAD!

So while I may disagree with several key aspects of Mr. Houard's plan, I will not blankly discourage people from contributing - just one piece of advise before you do, and that is simply to know where your money is going beforehand. Look at the plan and decide for yourself wether or not its feasible before you donate your hard-earned money. We all want Norway to be saved from the scrap heap, but a sale and assignment to a non-starter would place us right back where we are in a couple of years. Our old girl deserves better, I think.

quote:

Originally posted by Raoul Fiebig:
ryguy1718,

I'm sorry to say this, but Mr Huard has a huge record of fallen through projects and could IMHO even be called a con man. Everything he has put his hands on over the years has failed. He claimed to have purchased the "Norway" some years ago and only backed out of saying so when NCL threatened to sue him as they had never even heard of him!

Some years earlier he planned to have a new "Titanic" built and so on.

As much as I would love to see the "Norway" finding a new home, I must warn everybody to not donate any money as far as this gentleman is concerned. I have also replaced the quoted text from your posting with a direct link to the relevant site.

But again, anybody must be warned that this is more than likely not a serious enterprise!

Imagine the France/Norway restored without those top-heavy decks, with the funnel 'wings' operational again, and the deck courtyard freed from the windowed pool. Unlikely, I know--but a great dream!

emcmd, I have had that dream myself, unlikely as it is. When we were on SS Norway, our cabin was located across the hall from the entry to the former courtyard. I believe I checked out this area before even seeing our cabin! I also spent time in there during the cruise admiring the doorways, the wrought iron window grates, and imagining what the area was like before it was considered a pre-dug area in which to drop a swimming pool.

I'd also love to see the (Not So) Great Outdoor Cafe removed and the outdoor extention of Club Internationale restored. Another dream...

in revedefrance web pages is shot of Norway bow
and new BLUE LADY drawing.
I'm afraid,it's only only to scrap yard delievering name...

Mick,

the picture was taken from our German forum, here, where it was first published following publication in a German newspaper.

I agree with you that this was likely intended to be a scrapyard delivery name, but as scrapping is - according to Star Cruises - permanently off the table now, I don't think the renaming as such is something we should worry about. Instead, we should focus on helping develop possible solutions so that the ship will not eventually end up being scrapped despite Star's claims that scrapping is off the table.

Thanks Raoul

Hard questions about our beloved classic liner:
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but . . . . Numerous well-intended messages have been posted here speculating on NORWAY's future and the modifications necessary and/or desirable to restore her as a working cruise ship. And, having loved the ship in both of her previous "lives," I would like to see her life prolonged as much as anyone. But in all honesty, who among those with access to financing would be willing to spend the exorbitant sums necessary to re-power, refurbish, and bring the ship into compliance with looming SOLAS rules? What likelihood exists that the, um, titanic investment could ever be recouped? Are we engaging in a binge of wishful thinking? How many modern cruise customers are motivated by sentimentality and "classic" provenance? I'll tell you how many: damned few. Much of the vessel's accommodations reflect her transatlantic origins, and their dimensions limit the addition of modern amenities considered "essential" by modern pax. I am certainly no expert on marine propulsion systems, but the proposal to re-engine with gas turbines seems to overlook these installations' prodigal expense of operation. (Fine on naval vessels with taxpayers footing the fuel bills, but by no means an ideal choice for cruise ships except of course for environmental concern propaganda and avoiding exhaust emissions fines.) And at the end of the day (and perhaps $100 million-plus)what does one have? A maintenance-intensive ship nearing fifty years of age with beautiful hull lines, but no practical advantages over modern competition of similar size, all of whom can probably be operated more economically and whose very lack of beauty makes them more passenger-friendly. As much as I regret the opinion, I just can't see any viable future for the ship in cruising.

I have to agree with Heron Bay. If Norway were a house, you'd call her a Money-Pit. You could dump $100 million into her and still have nothing.
I hate it, bcs I am a HUGE fan of this beautiful ship. But the truth is, she's just a machine. And machines eventually wear out.

Hello everybody,

this is why I think the option of using her in a static role shouldn't be ruled out, either.

I agree, she is just a machine. But then the White House is also just an older building which I am sure needs a lot of attention and is a Money-Pit, as well. Wouldn't it be better to just demolish it and build a new, more modern, more economical one - a one better suited for today's changed security situation? Nobody would seriously consider that!

The "Norway", not the "France but the "Norway" is unique. She is the perfect example for a ship built for the Trans-Atlantic trade that arrived "too late". And then that ship rose like Phoenix from the ashes and became a cruising sensation. The ship prepared the way for what we know as the cruising mega-ships. Let's remember that the ship was even awarded the unprecedented privilege of flying the flag of the United Nations.

In my opinion, the "Norway" should be declared a World Heritage site - and I know I'm not alone with that opinion!

I am certainly not advocating demolition. Rather my point is that her career as an active cruise ship seems to be over, and attention should turn to providing her with an honored role in retirement, perhaps as a unique hotel/convention center.

Acknowledging the accuracy of Raoul's assessment of the NORWAY as a pioneer of large-ship cruising, my personal (and admittedly unrealistic) "ideal" future would see the ship restored to her FRANCE configuration (goodbye ugly upper-deck additions)and the centerpiece of a harbor revitalization project, serving as hotel/conference center/museum.

Hallo.I writes from Norway.What about
a collect for this beautiful lady?If all of us who loves her can get a engagement around the world,maybe than we can save her?

quote:

Originally posted by ryguy1718:
I went to the site www.revedefrance.com,
On it the goup claims to have 70% of the funds
needed to save the norway, Is this true?
I hope it is, if you go to this link you can see the statement. http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr?doit=done&u...france.com/&lp=fr_en
I hope this is true and not a pipe dream.

cruisebergenbergen,

welcome to Cruise-Chat.com.

As mentioned above, please note that chances are high that Mr Huard's project is not a serious one.

I don't think looking for donations among the "average" "Norway" anthusiasts makes sense. We are talking about tens of millions of dollars required to purchase and refurbish her. I see zero chances for that. One must find an investor able to raise those sums.