A tribute to the S.S. West Point/America/Australis/American Star

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Everyone knows the heavy hitters of spiffy passenger liners, the Titanic, the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth II, the Andrea Doria, etc. But what about the, er, "not-so-spiff" ships whose original opulence had faded so much that a cruise was closer to a stay at a skid row hotel.

Welcome aboard the S.S. Australis! (a.k.a. the U.S.S. West Point, the S.S. America, and the S.S. American Star).

http://www.ssaustralishomepage.co.uk/tokens1.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:22 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:25 (twenty-one years ago)

The schedule of short cruises-3 days to "nowhere", 4-and 5 day trips to Halifax and 5-day runs to Nassau-had barely begun when there were problems, in fact very serious problems. They seemed rather inevitable. She was berthed at Pier 92, at the foot of New York's West 52nd. Street. In early days, that terminal had been used by Cunard, but was now part of a six-berth consolidated cruise centre. Once passengers were aboard, most noticeable was the ship's near filthy condition: small mountains of soiled linen and masses of well worn mattresses, scattered bundles of rubbish and, just about everywhere was a stale stench-a foul mixture of kitchen odours, engine oils and plumbing backups. Evidently, there had been some run down and deferred maintenance even in her final Chandris passenger days. It seemed so inappropriate for a once sparkling liner. The outer decks were also in deep decay, suffering from the ill effects of long overdue care. There was rust, leaking water from overhead pipes and even holes caused by corrosion in the "dummy" forward funnel. Noticeably, there were far too many layers of paint slapped over the outer bulkheads, on the rails and-most alarmingly-on the davits and lifeboat gear. College students, employed at minimum rates, had carelessly painted some of the Public rooms, the once impeccable stainless steel trims were scarred by brush strokes. Most obviously, the ship needed weeks, if not months, of proper care-and all of it conducted at a proper shipyard. Alternatively, it seemed that she might best be sent on to the scrappers.
On the 30th June, however, and booked with some 900 passengers that responded to the overly enthusiastic, high spirited newspaper advertising by Venture Cruise Lines, and by the $75-a-day rates, followed with horrific reports of inadequate food, plumbing problems, ill-trained staff, uncleanliness and, perhaps most damaging, reports of cockroaches and even rats seen throughout the passenger areas. Somehow, she managed a second cruise, a 5-day run up to Halifax, but the same complaints followed-and along with reports of rubbish being stored in the outdoor pool. The old America was defaced and ruined completely. Her owners had already incurred over $500, 000 worth of fines. Promptly, Venture Cruise Lines closed their doors and declared bankruptcy.

― bad jode (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Kinda nice back in the day

http://www.ssaustralishomepage.co.uk/lounge1.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Though usually whoever owned the ship ended up in financial ruin

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:28 (twenty-one years ago)

This reminds me - earlier today, I remembered that I have an irrational phobia of large ships. I just don't like being near them.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:29 (twenty-one years ago)

A lot of the down time was spent rusting in one harbor or another

http://www.ssaustralishomepage.co.uk/piraeus1.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Silver Moon Ferries Ltd were her new owners in 1984, renaming her Alferdoss (Which meant "paradise" in Arabic).

― nobody loves an alferdoss (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Entertainment was, well, inexplicable

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:35 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Two Wild And Crazy Guys (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:36 (twenty-one years ago)

And hey, if the booze is cheap...

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:38 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:40 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:41 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:42 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:43 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:43 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:44 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:45 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:46 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:47 (twenty-one years ago)

For in January 1994, while passing within a hundred miles of the Morrocan coast the convoy entered a violent storm which began to put the towing operation in jeopardy. During the storm, the American Star broke free of the tow-lines on several occasions, but eventually it was decided that it would be safer for the towing vessel if the ocean liner was to float free until the storm subsided.
After the storm was over, the vessel was left to drift, and though it was known she was heading for the Canary Islands through major shipping lanes, no successful attempt was made to take the hulk under tow again. After drifting for two days, the ship finally beached at the Playa de Garcey, on the west coast of Fuerteventura, the second biggest island in the Canaries.

Once grounded, no serious effort seems to have been made to re-float the vessel, and after 48 hours of pounding by the ocean, the ship could no longer take the strain and she split in two, in much the same way the Titanic did before her final dive to the ocean floor. Her undoing was a weak part of her superstructure, in the vicinity of the engine room, main elevator shafts and stairwell. The stern section was then washed towards the shore and came to rest angled away from the bow section. From that moment on there was no hope for the vessel, and ever since she has been slowly breaking up, with the stern section succumbing to the ocean and rolling onto it's port side during 1996. Initially, before the stern section disappeared, it was very easy to gain access to all parts of the wreck of the American Star via ladders welded to the sides of the ship. The Spanish Army, which has an encampment in the gullies to the west of Playa de Garcey, is said to have many furnishings and fittings from the ship. Apparently, they are now in the armies headquarters on mainland Spain. But not only did the army profit from this tragedy, so did many of the inhabitants of Fuerteventura. All over the island houses are furnished with various goods "salvaged" from the wreck. Even a magnificent café and bar in the main port of Puerto del Rosario (Cafeteria el Naufragio on the corner of Avda de Mayo and Jesus Y Maria) is completely fitted out with windows, doors, panelling and furniture from the ship.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:50 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.ssaustralishomepage.co.uk/beached5.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:51 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:51 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.homepages.paradise.net.nz/dgriff/images/distance2.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:52 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.hyperfinch.de/gallery/ssas/SSAS003.lo.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:55 (twenty-one years ago)

More info: http://www.ssaustralishomepage.co.uk and http://www.homepages.paradise.net.nz/dgriff/index.html

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 06:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I am truly astounded.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:05 (twenty-one years ago)

You boys liking that beer?

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mulletts/images/theboys76ka.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, those last few pictures are amazing.

I was going to say that there should be an ILX cruise, but...maybe not.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Located amidships between the Ballroom and the Main Lounge this was the place to be for a quiet cocktail before dining or just spend the evening relaxing with friends. In 1976 it was also the place to be after a good nights raging in the ballroom. A group of young colonials regularly congregated here to participate in the Bucket Brigade. This was a drinking game involving a plastic bucket and usually Rum and Coke. Many a gargantuan hangover stemmed from this game.!!!

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mulletts/images/img18.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:13 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mulletts/images/Merlin.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Even the cakes at "cake night" look kinda dingy

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mulletts/images/Australis_cake_night_1972.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:15 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mulletts/images/boys73vn.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:16 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mulletts/images/Vic176.jpg

― bad jode (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:17 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mulletts/images/Thrown_to_King_Neptune_crossing_the_equator_on_Australis_1972.jpg

― bad jode (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:18 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mulletts/images/girls6vn73.jpg

― bad jode (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:20 (twenty-one years ago)

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mulletts/images/logbull.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:22 (twenty-one years ago)

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― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:26 (twenty-one years ago)

http://users.tpg.com.au/wolfram/index2/australis/fotos/the-band.jpg

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:34 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.2fuerteventura.com/American_1964/IMAG0006.JPG

― bad jode (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 14 December 2003 07:41 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

I have seen this boat. Three weeks ago. Twas pretty spooky, the sand was whipping up quite a bit and the boat appeared misty and ghostlike in the distance.

Quite a few islanders and tourists have drowned in recent years trying to swim out to the wreck. Not very wise.

― Rumpie, Tuesday, 23 August 2005 16:08 (twenty years ago)

What an amazing revive!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 August 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

Fuckin scary that there is a thread for it at all - I just thought I'd chance searching as I'm still spooked up after seeing the boat, it was rather haunting.

Seeing all the pics on this thread too - wow. Unbelievable. Many thanks to Elvis Telecom for starting it!!

― Rumpie, Tuesday, 23 August 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

Seeing all the pics on this thread too - wow. Unbelievable. Many thanks to Elvis Telecom for starting it!!

You're welcome! In other strange coincidences, Google Sightseeing just linked to a satellite picture of the wreck.

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Tuesday, 23 August 2005 16:42 (twenty years ago)

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