Norway's Boiler Explosion

Steam powered many of the great ocean liners and gave them their terrific speed. If not handled properly, however, it can prove fatally tragic.

May 25, 2003 saw a deadly boiler explosion aboard the SS Norway (ex-France) that ultimately killed eight crew members and seriously injured an additional ten. The accident happened early in the morning at Florida's Port of Miami. Norway had just returned from a cruise and docked when the boiler ruptured.

The ship's owner - Norwegian Cruise Lines - was charged with gross negligence by federal prosecutors. They pleaded guilty. An investigation found that the accident could have been easily prevented: Norway's boilers were old, cracked and leaky by the time of the explosion. Repairs had been made over the years, but they were shoddily done and unsafe. The ship's busy schedule also added strain to the aging boilers.

Norway was subsequently taken out of service and laid up in Germany for a time. She was ultimately sold for scrap and broken up at Alang, India like so many other ships.

References: "NCL pleads guilty to 'gross negligence' in Norway explosion," The Miami Herald, May 3, 2008.

A New Chapter for the United States

The SS United States, the former pride of America's merchant navy, was purchased from Norwegian Cruise Lines on February 1, 2011. The old liner was purchased by the SS United States Conservancy, using a donation from philanthropist Gerry Lenfest. It is certainly an event for ship lovers everywhere! The group's executive director, however, says that the real challenges are yet to come. The group now needs to find a permanent berth for the United States and determine a use for the excess of 650,000 square feet inside her. Everything is still very up-in-the-air, but there have been ideas of turning her into a casino, hotel, offices, etc. Personally, I think it would be great to turn her into a hotel like the Queen Mary and the Rotterdam.

Time is of the essence, however, and the Conservancy needs to move quickly. The money from Mr. Lenfest will only give the ship a 20-month "stay of execution." Donations, donations and more donations will be required to keep the United States afloat. No one knows - or wants to think about - what might happen if the ship is lost through lack of funding. If anyone wants to donate and help save this grand ship, I've attached a direct link to the Conservancy's website.

Whatever happens, though, it is safe to say that this is an exciting new chapter in the life of the SS United States!


References: Jesse Pesta, "Legendary Liner Has New Owner," The Wall Street Journal, February 1, 2011, under U.S., http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704254304576116223089782038.html (accessed February 5, 2011).