Just read this on SSMaritime News.
April 21: will the SS France become a Major Tourist Facility? (Also read the April 17, 18, 19 & 20 news updates)
The French plan is to tow her to a Singapore shipyard were all necessary work will be carried out after which she will receive a full refit and transform her into a major tourist facility.
Her original name “France” will be restored and will be painted in her original colours; a black hull and the traditional French Lines red and black funnels. However, her two top decks will remain, as obviously these decks contain the ships most luxurious accommodations, thus these decks will contain the hotels deluxe suites.
The France will also feature a variety of restaurants, café’s and a casino. Upon completion she will be relocated to South-East Asia (details to be released at a later date). Further to the aforementioned the France will provide a touch of France and will become a great symbol of French patrimony in her new location.
Additional note:
We need to keep in mind that there are two companies vying for the ship and I obviously support both efforts, as for us it is the rescue of the great ship which is first and foremost in our minds. It has been said that I favour the French effort, which is quite untrue as you clearly know. The only reason the above update is online being due to the information having been provided to me by the French company. However when the American group allows me to say more it will come online with equal enthusiasm! I need your ongoing support and I honestly believe that both the afore mentioned efforts have the ships best interests at heart!
April 20 - PM: I have just spoken to the principal of the French “second party” I mentioned earlier and the news was promising and showed a great deal of hope. I can assure you that this is a large and well known international group and that they have the funds to purchase her now and are ready to do so if an amicable settlement can be reached, but therein lays the difficulty.
Regarding the future of the French effort - SS France, yes I said SS France: I will provide details of the proposed plan for her new role. This should come online on the 21st . We may now ask, “Is there a miracle in the wind? As Mr. Cardozo of Priya Blue expressed in the email shown below, “Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Blue Lady will have a golden outcome.”
April 19: For the first time I am in direct contact with Priya Blue in relation to the possible sale of the Blue Lady. In reply to one of my emails came the following rather interesting statement from Mr. Cardozo of Priya Blue. However, I am not quite sure of his official position with the company.
“Several people, including myself, have the same sentiments as you … Our company does not lack for compassion but since this our business we acquired the vessel purely from a business angle … Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Blue Lady will have a golden outcome.”
Although excellent offers have been made for the ship, to date these have been not been accepted, I hope that this great lady can indeed “have a golden outcome”!
April 18: I have been advised that the court will now sit on April 30 and not on May 13. We hope that this will bring some good and uplifting news.
http://www.ssmaritime.com/newsupdates.htm
MONTE and More From Alang
November 30: As the world of ocean liner enthusiasts anxiously awaits news of the BLUE LADY's (ex FRANCE, NORWAY) Indian Supreme Court decision as to whether permission for her scrapping will be granted on December 4, the life and the death of other ships at Alang continues. MONTE (ex FREE STATE MARINER, MONTEREY) will soon be stripped and gradually broken up. In the meantime, she looks as pristine and splendid as ever, towering over the beach. Both AL SALAAM PASCOLI and AL SALAAM MANZONI are well under way, with half of their respective superstructures demolished. FOREST (ex 33 ORIENTALES, CITY OF RHODOS, QUEEN ELENI, JOYWAVE, QUEEN CONSTANTINA) is basically just a small portion of keel. No word on the imminent arrivals of TROPICANA (ex PRINSES PAOLA) and the long delayed ANDAMAN PRINCESS (ex SVEA JARL).