THIS SHIP COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED!!!

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

At the request of Mr. Gerd Wüsthoff, our Friend [Dirk Steffen] is sending the following message by the Bitsch-Christensen Family, who were the founders of the German Atlantic Line. Please help us spread it all over the World! This beautiful ship could have been saved!!! Here it goes:

«The picture of my father before his so very special funnel says it all. My body is shaking and I am so much into tears - and simultaneous I am angry like I've never been in my life. All I can think is, have the same forces come up again that back in 1974 have been responsible for my father and his life's achievements to come to an undue end? Because he was different, because he was always kind to and interested in his crews, staff, donors and his family? Because he brought humor into the shipping business, because so many of them prized him - that "stupid Dane" - so highly? Now, as my parents sit above us on their cloud, with shame and sadness turning their faces pale, tomorrow the sky will remain milky white, and their tears may pour as rain on the City of Hamburg until that town may float off, far and away. In deepest moaning about the most beautiful ship on the seas - and on behalf of my siblings and the whole family - the son. (Anders Bitsch-Christensen)»

I have just read this message and burst into tears. It is all so sad, why did this have to happen? Please post Anders' comment on your websites so that everyone all over the world can read and understand it - although certainly no one ever will understand why this lovely ship had to die!!!...

«S.S. United States» going up for sale or scrap!!...

On his post of February 14th, [gCaptain] informs that the classic American oceanliner «S.S. UNITED STATES» appears to be going up for sale and posts a release by the «S.S. United States Conservancy», as follows:

«The SS United States Conservancy has learned that the SS UNITED STATES will soon be listed for sale. The SS UNITED STATES was purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in 2003, and ownership of the vessel was recently transferred to a holding company controlled by NCL’s parent company, Hong Kong-based Star Cruises. In light of current economic conditions, the SS UNITED STATES is now in grave danger of being sold for scrap. The Conservancy’s press release related to the impending sale of the ship is available here: [SS United States Conservancy]».

Another beautiful and historical ship in danger... In a World in permanent financial and moral crisis, Ships are indeed the first «assets» to be left outside alone...

Some good news!!!!!

Photo taken by Sailor Girl, at «Maxim Gorkiy», former «T.S.Hamburg» and, God Bless, future «HAMBURG»!!!

«February 9: Alex Naughton reports: “I have just been informed by a reliable source that the Maxim Gorky has passed through the Suez Canal and now is currently stationary in the Red Sea near Southern Egypt awaiting further instructions on her next moves. So yes, to clarify, the Maxim Gorky is not moving and is stationary at this time and is not making any further progress towards India at the moment.

I am also informed that the ship has been exempt from SOLAS 2010 regulations (which come in force in October 2010) until October 2013, therefore this delays when she would need to be upgraded. Also the ship is fully intact on board and retains all her furniture, fittings and on board furnishings. Thus she remains in very good condition.

However she is only currently certificated for a one way delivery voyage to Alang, India for scrapping. If she can be saved she will need to be recertificated for other purposes or for a return to passenger service. Meanwhile the interested parties in Germany continue to make progress with their aspirations to save the Maxim Gorky.»

Source: http://www.ssmaritime.com/newsupdates.htm

REALLY URGENT!!!.....

Please help to persuade the municipal authorities of Hamburg that the «MAXIM GORKIY» former «T.S. HAMBURG» has to go back home to Hamburg! Click to open the above file to print it, collect signatures for the petition and send it back to DR. ANDREAS BUSECKE to his fax nr. (+ 49) 4921 32922. It is URGENT, the ship is expected to arrive to India TODAY!!! Thank you!!!

RESCUE «MAXIM GORKIY/ T.S. HAMBURG»!!!

(Photo taken by Sailor Girl to «T.S.Hamburg/ Maxim Gorkiy», last September, in Bergen)

Please note the following message sent by our Friend [Andreas Busecke]:

«Dear friends, of course you heard about the destiny of the beautiful Maxim Gorkiy, former T.S. Hamburg. She's now on the way to be scrapped in India. In Hamburg, the birthplace and past homeport of the ship, an action group has started the last attempt to preserve this historic liner. A group of investors has promised to transform the ship into a maritime hotel, museum and meeting point in the port of Hamburg, subject to the condition that the city of Hamburg offers a pier in the centre of the port.

The municipal authorities seem to be not aware of the importance of this classic liner - especially for Hamburg. After the Second World War, it was the first and also the last transatlantic liner built in Hamburg - and She is still in pretty good shape. It is an example of Excellency in German/Hamburg shipbuilding.

Please help to persuade the municipal authorities that the former TS Hamburg has to come back to Hamburg! Print the supplement, collect signatures for the petition and send back to me by fax.

It is URGENT, the ship is expected in India within 2 days.

Thanks to all shiplovers, sincerely

Andreas Busecke»

(This is the above referred Signature list for the initiative to repatriate the former «TS HAMBURG» to Hamburg)

More information may be found on the following links:

• Club of the former cooks and of the friends of the ship: [HERE];
• The local newspaper: [HERE].

You may also send your protest to the following EMAIL ADDRESSES (kindly given to me by Christina, from Germany):

• oeffentlichkeitsservice@bk.hamburg.de
• briefe@abendblatt.de
• ole.vonbeust@sk.hamburg.de
• hans.lafrenz@cduhamburg.de
• info@hpa.hamburg.de
• info@ndr.de (local television)
• info@zdf.de (national television)

SAVE «T.S.HAMBURG»/ «MAXIM GORKIY»!!!!!

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

Dear T.S.HAMBURG/ MAXIM GORKIY:

«Will your system be alright

when you dream of home tonight?

There is no message we're receiving...

Let me know, is your heart still beating?...»

REMINDER: The first two songs now playing at Radio Atlântico Azul (the lyrics where posted as comments to a previous post), «Are we Human», by «The Killers» and «Leave out all the rest», by «Linkin' Park» are the songs «T.S.HAMBURG/ Maxim Gorkiy» is now singing on her trip to Alang Bitch, I mean, Beach, in India, WHERE BEAUTIFUL SHIPS LIKE German «HAMBURG» and Portuguese «INFANTE D HENRIQUE» ARE SLAUGHTERED for half a penny!....

GERMAN EFFICIENCY!!!!

THIS IS A SAMPLE OF PROTEST YOU MAY SEND BY FAX TO THE FOLLOWING FAX NUMBERS:

• Hamburg Port Authority: (+ 49) 40 – 42847 – 2325
• Senatskanzlei Hamburg: (+ 49) 40 – 42831 – 2820
• CDU-Bürgerschaftsfraktion: (+ 49) 40 – 42831 – 2603
• Ole von Beust, 1. BM: (+ 49) 40 – 42831 – 2403
• Axel Gedaschko, Wirtschaftssenator: (+49) 40 – 42841 – 1620
• Hans Lafrenz, CDU: (+49) 40 – 8971 21729
• Jürgen Bruns-Berentelg, HafenCity Hamburg GmbH: (+49) 40 – 37472626
• Hamburg Cruise Center, Herr Dirk Moldenhauer: (+ 49) 040 – 30979889
• Hamburg Marketing GmbH: (+49) 40 – 4111 10615
• Radio Hamburg: (+49) 40 - 33 97 14 – 628
• NDR Fernsehen: (+49) 40 – 447 602
• Hamburg 1 Fernsehen: (+49) 40 – 41442 – 444
• Hamburger Abendblatt: (+49) 40 – 347 261 – 10
• BILD Hamburg: (+49) 40 – 347 – 23474
• Hamburger Morgenpost: (+49) 40 - 80 90 57 – 284
• Die Zeit: (+49) 40 - 3280 – 5003
• Die Welt: (+49) 40 - 34 72 45 21

Estes são alguns modelos de Cartas de Protesto que podemos utilizar como referência e remeter para os números de fax que acima reproduzo!!!! Vamos ajudar a SALVAR ESTE LINDO NAVIO!!!!....

Let's save «MAXIM GORKIY», former «HAMBURG»!!!

I took this photo so recently!!! Why does She have to be scrapped??? She's in perfect shape! YES, WE CAN HELP SAVE HER!!!!

«Why has it not worked, Mr. Senator?» The «[Abendblatt]» spoke with Economy Senator Axel Gedaschko (CDU) and asked him why the project "Maxim Gorkiy" failed. I tried my best to translate into English language (please read it as a comment to this post).

ADENDA: The first two songs now playing at Radio Atlântico Azul, «Are we Human», by «The Killers» and «Leave out all the rest», by «Linkin' Park» are the songs «HAMBURG» is now singing on her trip to Alang Bitch, I mean, Alang Beach, in India, WHERE BEAUTIFUL SHIPS LIKE «HAMBURG» AND «INFANTE D HENRIQUE» ARE SLAUGHTERED for half a penny!....

BRING BACK «ARGUS» TO PORTUGAL!!!

AUCTION PENDING IN ARUBA!!

PLEASE HELP US BRING BACK HOME OUR SHIP!!!...

Old picture downloaded from the archives of Lisbon's Town Hall, describing the blessing of the Portuguese White Fleet in the 1950's and 1960's, usually in April, at Tagus River (Lisbon), before departing for the Codfish Campaigns in Newfoundland. One of them in the picture, the schooner «POLYNESIA II» (former «ARGUS»), sister of «CREOULA» and «SANTA MARIA MANUELA», CAN become Portuguese again very soon!... YES WE CAN!!! WE CAN BRING HER BACK TO PORTUGAL!!!

Built in 1939 in the Netherlands for Lisbon based owners Parceria Geral de Pescarias, «ARGUS» has been cruising in the Caribbeans since 1976 under the name «POLYNESIA II». Sold by Parceria in 1974 to Canadian interests (White Fleet Cruise Ships), she was resold in 1975 to Windjammer Barefoot and converted to carry 126 passengers. However, this company has gone bankrupt... and we are affraid that «ARGUS» will be «left outside alone»...

Following the track left by A. Fangueiro and by me (on my post of January 7, 2008) and by John Seaman, Pedro Vasconcelos and myself tried to track the auction of Argus that was announced for January 2009 in Aruba (GMT -4). We have sent messages to the lawyers of Kloes & Partners in Aruba, but so far not received answers. PLEASE HELP US BRING BACK HOME OUR SHIP!!!...

LET'S SAVE «MAXIM GORKIY»!!!!

(Photo by Sailor Girl, of a model of «Maxim Gorkiy», former «HAMBURG», taken aboard this beautiful Ship in September 2008).

Please do me a favor and leave at the Newspaper «ABENDBLATT» [HERE] a comment with your protest against the killing of «MAXIM GORKIY», former «HAMBURG», a beautiful German Ship that is on her way to Alang Beach in India to be scrapped!!!... She MUST be rescued, the same way the German People saved «CAP SAN DIEGO» and many other German Ships in Hamburg and other German Ports!!!... I will a.s.a.p. post other sites where you can leave a comment. Who knows we will be able to save Her???... Thank You!!!