The S.S. UNITED STATES docked in Newport News, Va. on November 8, 1969 for her annual overhaul. By mid-November she was ordered into "lay-up" status and the New York Times wrote at the time "her return to service remains in doubt." There was a two man crew left aboard to babysit the vessel - Staff Captain John S. Tucker and Chief Engineer John Logue. There were two umbilical cords keeping the liner alive - one steam line and one electrical line - both connected from shore. The abbreviated crew lived ashore and reported to work every day at 8AM. Their only break came at 4PM when Capt. Tucker joined Mr. Logue for tea. This was their routine seven days a week and they spent Christmas 1969 on the empty vessel. As Newport News was the place of her birth it is probably fitting that she would end her active sailing life there. So it is F.W.E. - finished with engines. We wish the Conservancy Good Luck in their efforts to save this ocean liner.
tjs
Next - Number 42
No comments:
Post a Comment