[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Been lurking, finally joined up.
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Several random thoughts, I was wondering how US Flagged ships could of stayed competitive with 3rd world flagged ships.I have always thought that the American merchant marine basically imploded. Anyways here I go...[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Military puts Newport news on notice that they are thinking of using the SS United states for duty in Korea, but never proceeds with the plan. SS United States enters service per in our time line. Butterflies start[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sister ship approved(I'll call her the SS Columbia and it's assigned to Matson line for duty in the Pacific), Congress again gets smart and realizes that troops sent overseas via ship got there more rested and had most of the paperwork and immunizations completed when the troops arrived in Germany or England. Plus the troops could carry more of their personal gear, saving on shipping costs as well. That helps reduce the Subsidy by maritime commission.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In the mid 60's the SSUS is updated with improvements based on the design William F. Gibbs wanted to do, but maritime commission blocked it, adding bathrooms to some 3rd class(tourist)cabins converting them into Cabin compatible. Tourist class was used for Students, and enlisted troops. Senior enlisted and officers would go Tourist(2nd Class) . Tourist was upgraded so they could be used as one class ships like the, SS Queen Elizabeth 2, SS, France, As well as other " Part time liners and part time cruise ships"[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Unions get smart and realize that with fewer ships they loose jobs they don't strike as often. The United States line made a unheard of offer to allow the unions ownership in the line. Unions then were more involved and the more money the line made, the more unions made. At the time ownership was capped at 49%. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]While the SSUS and Columbia were still holding high average passenger loads. they lobbied the maritime commission to do more cruising, as at times they had more crew than passengers on board. Between Cruising and with congress allowing US flagged ships to have casinos, thus bringing in more income, Increasing cruising during the year(like the QE2 and Rotterdam). At times both ships were doing world tours, one eastbound, the other west bound. The Columbia starts Cruising part of the year and transpacific crossings to Japan and other US territories in the Pacific. More and more Troops going to Viet Nam now going by ship, Again troops arrive better prepared on arrival. Besides the liners, the defense dept brought several troopships out of mothballs to make up for increased numbers of troops,[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]During the oil crisis in the early 70's SSUS And Columbia, are overhauled for several months while the forward engine room is mothballed and 2 screws removed and capped to reduce drag. They then return to service with reduced crew and lower speed to save on fuel costs. They then returned to cruise duty . The mothballed engine room could be returned to use within a short dry dock period if needed. The United States and Columbia are modified so that the forward cargo holds are converted to container usage. This helps stay off the end for a few more years. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In the late 70's and the early 80's the Mothballed ships Constitution and Independence are refurbished and brought back to service as full time cruise ships, One in the Caribbean and other in Hawaiian waters. after having their steam plant converted to Diesel. One engine room is also removed. As with the older ships the cargo holds are converted to container shipping. Plans are also brought up to replace the SSUS and Columbia as the ships now are 30+ years old. With the end of the cold war, fewer troops are being sent overseas, and the military had enough troopships that the older ships no longer were needed to carry troops. Plans were made upgrade the troop quarters to cabin class but in the end It just wasn't feasible. In the end the twins were removed from service and laid up. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]What would the other butterflies of this be? Would other cruise lines like Carnival Which is American owned would they have American flaged ships? Would they still of gone with flags of convenience. What does everyone think.
docfl
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[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Several random thoughts, I was wondering how US Flagged ships could of stayed competitive with 3rd world flagged ships.I have always thought that the American merchant marine basically imploded. Anyways here I go...[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Military puts Newport news on notice that they are thinking of using the SS United states for duty in Korea, but never proceeds with the plan. SS United States enters service per in our time line. Butterflies start[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Sister ship approved(I'll call her the SS Columbia and it's assigned to Matson line for duty in the Pacific), Congress again gets smart and realizes that troops sent overseas via ship got there more rested and had most of the paperwork and immunizations completed when the troops arrived in Germany or England. Plus the troops could carry more of their personal gear, saving on shipping costs as well. That helps reduce the Subsidy by maritime commission.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In the mid 60's the SSUS is updated with improvements based on the design William F. Gibbs wanted to do, but maritime commission blocked it, adding bathrooms to some 3rd class(tourist)cabins converting them into Cabin compatible. Tourist class was used for Students, and enlisted troops. Senior enlisted and officers would go Tourist(2nd Class) . Tourist was upgraded so they could be used as one class ships like the, SS Queen Elizabeth 2, SS, France, As well as other " Part time liners and part time cruise ships"[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Unions get smart and realize that with fewer ships they loose jobs they don't strike as often. The United States line made a unheard of offer to allow the unions ownership in the line. Unions then were more involved and the more money the line made, the more unions made. At the time ownership was capped at 49%. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]While the SSUS and Columbia were still holding high average passenger loads. they lobbied the maritime commission to do more cruising, as at times they had more crew than passengers on board. Between Cruising and with congress allowing US flagged ships to have casinos, thus bringing in more income, Increasing cruising during the year(like the QE2 and Rotterdam). At times both ships were doing world tours, one eastbound, the other west bound. The Columbia starts Cruising part of the year and transpacific crossings to Japan and other US territories in the Pacific. More and more Troops going to Viet Nam now going by ship, Again troops arrive better prepared on arrival. Besides the liners, the defense dept brought several troopships out of mothballs to make up for increased numbers of troops,[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]During the oil crisis in the early 70's SSUS And Columbia, are overhauled for several months while the forward engine room is mothballed and 2 screws removed and capped to reduce drag. They then return to service with reduced crew and lower speed to save on fuel costs. They then returned to cruise duty . The mothballed engine room could be returned to use within a short dry dock period if needed. The United States and Columbia are modified so that the forward cargo holds are converted to container usage. This helps stay off the end for a few more years. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]In the late 70's and the early 80's the Mothballed ships Constitution and Independence are refurbished and brought back to service as full time cruise ships, One in the Caribbean and other in Hawaiian waters. after having their steam plant converted to Diesel. One engine room is also removed. As with the older ships the cargo holds are converted to container shipping. Plans are also brought up to replace the SSUS and Columbia as the ships now are 30+ years old. With the end of the cold war, fewer troops are being sent overseas, and the military had enough troopships that the older ships no longer were needed to carry troops. Plans were made upgrade the troop quarters to cabin class but in the end It just wasn't feasible. In the end the twins were removed from service and laid up. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]What would the other butterflies of this be? Would other cruise lines like Carnival Which is American owned would they have American flaged ships? Would they still of gone with flags of convenience. What does everyone think.
docfl
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