SS France / SS Norway / "Blue Lady"

[Bob C.]

Rob,  hope it is within the scope of the website to ask about a ship from another line but since SS France and QE2 were the last 2 real trans-Atlantic liners to serve the run, I think I am OK.

I wanted to ask if anyone has recently seen or heard anything on the SS France/Norway/Blue Lady.  I've been tracking the slow dismantling of the ship at this website

(http://www.midshipcentury.com/)

but there has not been an update since 29 Dec 08.  I assume from the remnants seen in the 29 Dec photo that there is not much left of her (if anything) at Alang but I would have thought there would be a final picture showing the beach she occupied or something similar.

[NairB]

 

Thats heartbreaking, how can they do this to a great liner like the France, she was beautiful!! 

There is no way I could watch the QE2 suffer the same fate....NO WAY...

-NairB

[Mauretania1907]

I think that by Dec 08, the last remnants would have gone.

[Dr. Edmund Carus]

Hello all,

For lovers of the France, please see the attached website.

http://www.dvomarinedesign.com/france3d/france3d-intro.htm

Take care,

Edmund

[Andrew Collier]

Thanks for that Edmund, had seen it a few months ago, but always a pleasure to be reminded of a site so fine!

That guy really has done a great job with that, maybe he should do QE2 in 'as built' guise next? That would be awesome....

Cheers :-)

[mickey g]

I took this photo last week, it is on a house wall in Sitges, Catalonia, Spain, nothing to do with Cunard but I like it.

[Heather]

 

I dread to imagine what the inside of our dear ship looks like at the minute - fills me with horror!

[NairB]

 

I was on the Norway and what a beautiful ship she was....how could France let her be chopped up.

Very sad video.

NO WAY will our Queen suffer the same fate....NO WAY!!!

[Malcolm]

It is so sad

Yes. It is sad  Unfortunately that is what happens to most ships when there is no longer a use for them. It will help if you remember that an unwanted heap of rusting metal has now been turned back into things that are wanted by people

[pete cain]

lots of poignant links to another great lady

[andyh]

A very sad end to a fantastic ship 

[Jem]

I didnt realise she had already been broken up. The end of another era.

Here's a link to her sad demise. Just pray this never happens to QE2!!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Here is the full series of Peter Knego's pictures, documenting the dismantling process of the ship, all the way to her bitter end in December 2008 :

http://www.midshipcentury.com/blueladypage.shtml

[luzparis]

i find this video very strange !! when the metal of SS France is use for knife !! for me it's sad  !! i hope the QE2 don't become a metal tea pot for collector

[jdl]

This has to rate as one of my favourite you tube liner clips -a fanatastic and daring visit to a classic area of one of THE great trans atlantic liners - real treat and one that is never likely to be repeated - why, you'll need to watch it to find out....

Hope you all enjoy as much as I did!!

john

[Rob Lightbody]

Thanks John, thats a great video!

[luzparis]

this is a video of ss france the song it's a famous 70 's succes the singer decide to wrote a song when the ship was on hold  in the Le Havre , and when french state decide to put her out of service  in 1974 if i  have a time I try to translate this song because actually QE2 have the same destiny in DUBAI

Le France
by Michel Sardou

Quand je pense à la vieille Anglaise
Qu'on appelait le "Queen Mary"
Echouée si loin de ses falaises
Sur un quai de Californie
Quand je pense à la vieille anglaise
J'envie les épaves englouties
Longs courriers qui cherchaient un rêve
Et n'ont pas revu leur pays

{Refrain:}
Ne m'appelez plus jamais France
La France elle m'a laissé tomber
Ne m'appelez plus jamais France
C'est ma dernière volonté

J'étais un bateau gigantesque
Capable de croiser mille ans
J'étais un géant, j'étais presque,
Presque aussi fort que l'océan
J'étais un bateau gigantesque
J'emportais des milliers d'amants
J'étais la France, qu'est-ce qu'il en reste ?
Un corps-mort pour des cormorans

{au Refrain}

Quand je pense à la vieille Anglaise
Qu'on appelait le "Queen Mary"
Je ne voudrais pas finir comme elle
Sur un quai de Californie
Que le plus grand navire de guerre
Ait le courage de me couler !
Le cul tourné à Saint-Nazaire
Pays breton où je suis né

{au Refrain}


the translation sorry if the english is not good
The France

by Michel Sardou

When I think of old English woman
As it was called "Queen Mary
grounded so far from its cliffs
On a California Wharf
When I think of the old English woman
I envy the englouties wrecks
Long couriers who sought a dream
And have not reviewed their country

{Refrain:}
Do call me never France
France it left me fall
Do call me never France
This is my last wish

I was a huge boat
Able to fold one thousand years
I was a giant, I was almost,
Almost as strong as the ocean
I was a huge boat
I carried thousands of lovers
I was France, that is what remains?
A death body for some seagulls

{in the refrain}

When I think of old English woman
As it was called "Queen Mary"
I would not end up like her
On a California Wharf
As the largest vessel of war
The courage of me sink!
my ass in front of Saint-Nazaire
Breton country where I was born

{in the refrain}

[luzparis]

a new video so romantic with the song !!!   "very cliché"

[Chris Frame]

This is why long-term layup for QE2 worries me so.

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/pressroom/pressRelease.html?storyCode=PR_072103

All the promise of a repair and eventual return to service for Norway, broken.

[cunardqueen]

27th August 1998 Whe she called into Invergordon in the highlands