For me she will always be the American Star, and it hurts to see how this old beauty was treated when she grew older. She did her job for so many years, but nobody cares for something or someone who is not useful anymore. I can hear you crying, Mylady, and I won't forget you. Rest in Peace.
It is sad, but as much as we anthropomorphize grand, beautiful and interesting old machines, in the end they are machines and eventually wear out or become obsolete. A few of the grandest examples, like the Queen Mary and (possibly) the SS. United States are held back from scrapping because of their exceptional status. The S.S. America didn't make the cut (even if it did have a storied career), but you can help the even more historically important S.S. United States by donating to the S.S. United States Conservancy, which is in desperate need of assistance. They've been working for years on multiple redevelopment projects for the S.S. United States, much like the Queen Mary received, but have been beset by one bit of bad luck, and unfortunate timing, after another. They could really use your help, and that ship is still afloat... for now.
You are correct. She was built to cruise the open sea providing luxury and comfort to her passengers, not for brief entertainment between ports of call. There is only one TRUE ocean liner left, and that's the RMS Queen Mary II. None of what is afloat today could survive or is built for transatlantic crossings.
I'm glad this was posted and that we have this documented view of this once great liner intact, before she was lost. I also think there's something poetic about the grand old lady being taken by the sea, rather than the indignity of being torn apart by cutters at a scrapyard.
The ship met the end with the rough sea waves tearing the hull apart, breaking it all down over time. These old ships are so beautiful, compared to ships of today.
She was very well preserved inside. Lots of the original 1940s fixtures and details. Such a pity she was lost - what were they thinking, trying to tow a huge ocean liner around the African coast in the dead of winter? Why oh why didn't they wait just a few months for better weather?
It was January and the Canary Islands in winter yes,normally calm waters there."the Islands of eternal spring". Sadly a strong storm changed all that.Had they sailed down to South Africa it would have been summer an a reasonable trip around the Cape of Good Hope.Very sad really.But the sea took this elegant liner,not the wreckers.
Great video ! She was famous as SS America, Westpoint and Australis. And she died spectacular as the wreck of the American Star at the west coast of Fuerteventura, where I have seen here 3 times. The furniture which we can see on this video could be sold for high prices today, and even more the remaining art. But I guess nobody could expect that when he visited her in her blaming time as Alferdoss. A great ship !
I've seen alot of videos on this poor ships demise. I believe this is my favorite! I think the fact that there's no dialog or music makes it more respectful. Great job!👍
Such a shame what happened to her, I remember seeing her when I was on holidays on Fuerteventura - sadly already broken in half. She must've been an impressive liner!
Too bad she wasnt permanently drydocked at this point she was more beautiful than United States in my opinion, and her interiors are completely stripped too so its just a hull so sad what happened to these ships
@@crow_scripts I dunno bro, she looks pretty grounded to me... LOL. Sure they definitely dropped the anchors but I think that was intended to keep her from beaching any more!
@@Kathleennebel if I was on the bow or the stern I probably wouldn't be so concerned but if I was amidships? Oh yeah definitely!!! That'd be disconcerting at best and scary as shit at most! 😱
@@whoohaaXL she didn’t look like this when she broke in half. This is from when she was named the Alferdoss and was docked in Lebanon. When she broke in half, she had a new paint job and was named the American Star.
Not really. The States is in fresh water which means deterioration is slowed considerably, which is why she is still at 92% hull strength. There is existing rust and wear from the 20 year period of just sitting around before being bought by the Conservancy but that could be handled.
@@aegonthedragon7303 I'm thinking of the overall structural design and engineering vs. SS America. I would have to do some research, but I believe that the hull plating on the SS United States is thicker as well.
United States is not her sister she is more bigger and has a more futuristic looking superstructure compared to america sister ship’s are ship’s with the same design and look.
I am confused by the missing funnel, as she had two. Just today I have been working on improving/salvaging photos my parents took during our voyage on the S.S. United States in May of 1958. One image that I almost didn't look at because it looked to be just some traces of grey in white, now very clearly shows this ship docked on one side of the United States Lines pier in New York and the United States to her left on the other side of the pier. Two more piers to their left is the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth.
@@MarkWick Well, when the Greeks rebought the ship in the late 1970s, they found that the forward funnel was badly corroded and decided to reduce it to a stump; they also thought it would modernise the exterior to compete with newer ships. The Italis only lasted for one season before she was laid up as seen here.
My family sailed on her from Ireland to New York many years ago. I was all of three years old then. Memories are a bit vague now. I do remember hitting rough seas though.
recuerdo perfectamente cuando avisaron a salvamento marítimo para que fuera a evacuar a la tripulación de ese barco. Al principio no se sabía quién se iba a hacer responsable de ese barco. poco a poco cada vez se iba oxidando y rompiendo más. en la situación en la que estaba se llegó a crear una playa artificial y muchas personas llegaban caminando y se metían dentro del buque. cuándo subí a la marea no podía salir y tenían que ser rescatados en un helicóptero. eres impresionante ver el barco doblado por la mitad.
Unfortunately, she's gone. She was wrecked at Fuerteventura in 1994 while under tow. She ran aground where she remains today. She started to break up shortly thereafter and by 2008, she was gone. She completely succumbed to the sea and is only visible at low tide. Such a sad demise for such an elegant lady. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_America_(1939); th-cam.com/video/GLQ1Y42yJpM/w-d-xo.html This is why we MUST save her sister, the S.S. United States: www.ssusc.org/; She too faces an uncertain future!
This was more intact at abandonment than the SS United States is in preservation. Please tell me that artifacts were removed prior to her final demise.
Man that's a shame for this ship to go down like that yet have all the things that made her so grand and gorgeous. It's like watching all that slowly break apart and disappear into the waves
It's interesting to see the interiors of the ship still exist, most of the time they're gutted and it's just exposed steel and empty spaces. All things come to pass.
It really sickens me that they did not take care of her before washing up ashore and breaking in half. Heck she could've been a museum or a hotel just like the Queen Mary.
@Kyle Boester What happened to the America was a huge loss for the historic maritime community. The ship was once the pride of its country has been abandoned and claimed by the sea. For me personally, it was a tragedy that this happened at all, it once roamed the waves with beauty and class, now a faded memory of another time.
@@matthewcox6615 yes I 100% agree with you. And actually all ships like this one were full of beauty in their own special way. No matter what time period they were in.
@@kyleboester4005 The thing I find fascinating about this ship is its story, it was launched before the Second World War and ended up having a long and diverse career. Its fate is also fascinating, to see such a huge ship surrendering to nature is almost unbelievable, slowly being eaten until nothing was left. Nature is unimaginably powerful and should always be respected and feared.
USS Westpoint 1941-1946 SS America 1946-1964 SS Australis 1964-1977 SS America 1978 SS Italis 1978-1980 SS Noga 1980-1984 SS Alferdoss 1984-1993 SS American Star 1993-2008
Literally looks like the titanic. I see this scenario time and time again where a car,truck, boat, building, whatever reaches it's bottom values before it becomes historical. Some make it some get scrapped or ruined. This ship was too big too expensive to pull her from this situation. Had she been in a port intact probably could been restored. Your talking lead paint, asbestos, repower. Big big job.
I LOVE OLD LINERS AND THIS WAS NOT the right way for her to die - she was BEAUTIFUL and people would have paid to cruise on her again if someone had bothered to save her - Instead left as aa derelict wreck smashed to bits by the sea. SO SO SAD🤬🤬😭😭😭
O ss America era um navio muito lindo e luxuoso mais depois de tanto tenpo em funcionamento ele ficou feio por Qualsa da sua estrutura quase enferrujada pelo tenpo
@@randyclarke6284 It had been sitting around for a long time and the engines no longer worked; plus, the ship was beached in late 80s due to a burst bilge pipe that flooded the lower decks.
It would be completely pitch dark down there, so pretty dangerous, and creepy as hell to boot. The public spaces and staterooms are eerie enough, full of the ghosts of better times in the fading light of an overcast day. Kinda fitting given what would happen to her later on.
This is the ship that took my grandfather to fight in Italy with the 10th Mountain Division in WW2. He wrote a letter talking about it
Did he regret it all, when he saw the result afterwards?
For me she will always be the American Star, and it hurts to see how this old beauty was treated when she grew older. She did her job for so many years, but nobody cares for something or someone who is not useful anymore. I can hear you crying, Mylady, and I won't forget you. Rest in Peace.
F
The ship was originally named America.
She was originally called america, so “American star” is the new term,
Least she died peacefully in the waters she once traveled and served.
It is sad, but as much as we anthropomorphize grand, beautiful and interesting old machines, in the end they are machines and eventually wear out or become obsolete. A few of the grandest examples, like the Queen Mary and (possibly) the SS. United States are held back from scrapping because of their exceptional status. The S.S. America didn't make the cut (even if it did have a storied career), but you can help the even more historically important S.S. United States by donating to the S.S. United States Conservancy, which is in desperate need of assistance. They've been working for years on multiple redevelopment projects for the S.S. United States, much like the Queen Mary received, but have been beset by one bit of bad luck, and unfortunate timing, after another. They could really use your help, and that ship is still afloat... for now.
Beyond sad, breaks my heart! 😪 I worked on her in the late 1960’s when she was the Australis. A magnificent ship, I loved her❤
This looks like a far more appealing ship to sail on than a modern cruise ship.
She was a proper ship, not a fun park!
Absolutely. Today's cruise ships are a garish, commercial enterprise. In those days they had style, and elegance. I guess those days are gone...😪🌹⚓
You are correct. She was built to cruise the open sea providing luxury and comfort to her passengers, not for brief entertainment between ports of call. There is only one TRUE ocean liner left, and that's the RMS Queen Mary II. None of what is afloat today could survive or is built for transatlantic crossings.
Insane how the interior was preserved.
I know! Like a time machine for ocean liner enthusiasts. Chandris loved the original styling that they decided to keep them.
Sadly I think the only parts left of her today are fully submerged underwater..
I'm glad this was posted and that we have this documented view of this once great liner intact, before she was lost. I also think there's something poetic about the grand old lady being taken by the sea, rather than the indignity of being torn apart by cutters at a scrapyard.
The ship met the end with the rough sea waves tearing the hull apart, breaking it all down over time. These old ships are so beautiful, compared to ships of today.
well it was the better end than being scrapped and forgotten
the interiors are beautiful yet haunting at the same time...
I'll BET there's ghosts aboard, I prints from better, more glorious, days afloat...
She was very well preserved inside. Lots of the original 1940s fixtures and details. Such a pity she was lost - what were they thinking, trying to tow a huge ocean liner around the African coast in the dead of winter? Why oh why didn't they wait just a few months for better weather?
It's always those economic problems
And probably even poor time management
Or an insurance job.
@@TransmissionEpictsyes you are right. It is commonly known to have been an insurance job.
The ship wasn't allowed to pass through the Suez Canal due to not being able to move under its own power.
It was January and the Canary Islands in winter yes,normally calm waters there."the Islands of eternal spring".
Sadly a strong storm changed all that.Had they sailed down to South Africa it would have been summer an a reasonable trip around the Cape of Good Hope.Very sad really.But the sea took this elegant liner,not the wreckers.
Great video ! She was famous as SS America, Westpoint and Australis. And she died spectacular as the wreck of the American Star at the west coast of Fuerteventura, where I have seen here 3 times. The furniture which we can see on this video could be sold for high prices today, and even more the remaining art. But I guess nobody could expect that when he visited her in her blaming time as Alferdoss. A great ship !
SO SAD. I TRAVELED FROM FRANCE TO NY ON HER IN 1964.
Rust In Pieces such a beautiful ship in its glory days. Once a magnificent ship is now rusting in pieces.
I've seen alot of videos on this poor ships demise. I believe this is my favorite! I think the fact that there's no dialog or music makes it more respectful. Great job!👍
Fantastic love the story so sad how she ended 😭
Some of the interior shots look so peaceful. Almost as if she was just asleep, waiting to take more happy passengers on a new adventure.
My parents my sister and I emigrated to America on her in 1954 shame how she ended up!
wild how ALL of this is in the ocean now.
1955 bin ich als Kind von Bremerhaven nach New York gefahren, ein tolles Erlebnis!
Sad, I remember her in her "second heyday" as the SS "Australis". Loudest ship's siren I have ever heard.
Such a shame what happened to her, I remember seeing her when I was on holidays on Fuerteventura - sadly already broken in half. She must've been an impressive liner!
Too bad she wasnt permanently drydocked at this point she was more beautiful than United States in my opinion, and her interiors are completely stripped too so its just a hull so sad what happened to these ships
SS United States will follow a similar path as she will be sunk as an artificial reef.
I can always remember seeing her when I was young at Southampton docks
Onboard footage from before she split two days later?!?! This is some rare footage here, boys and girls!
This was filmed before it ran aground
Can you imagine you’re in the ship and that’s when it breaks in half!!
@@crow_scripts I dunno bro, she looks pretty grounded to me... LOL. Sure they definitely dropped the anchors but I think that was intended to keep her from beaching any more!
@@Kathleennebel if I was on the bow or the stern I probably wouldn't be so concerned but if I was amidships? Oh yeah definitely!!! That'd be disconcerting at best and scary as shit at most! 😱
@@whoohaaXL she didn’t look like this when she broke in half. This is from when she was named the Alferdoss and was docked in Lebanon. When she broke in half, she had a new paint job and was named the American Star.
I Was Visited The SS Noga/Alferdoss In October 1990!!!!
So Erie so quiet !! Idk scary to me! Just think how much life and energy was in the ship at one time!
its so sad no one learned a lesson from this and now her younger sister is essentially going through the same thing
SS United States is new than SS America I’m quite certain.
@@IllBushido Correct. Substantially different design as well.
Not really. The States is in fresh water which means deterioration is slowed considerably, which is why she is still at 92% hull strength. There is existing rust and wear from the 20 year period of just sitting around before being bought by the Conservancy but that could be handled.
@@aegonthedragon7303 I'm thinking of the overall structural design and engineering vs. SS America. I would have to do some research, but I believe that the hull plating on the SS United States is thicker as well.
No te creas están trabajando en repararla para convertirla en un hotel de 5 estrellas
That ship is in the best condition I've seen a Old ship in without being Fully scraped
So sad how this once beautiful ship ended up. We can only hope the sister ship S.S. United States can be saved and not meet the same fate......
United States is not her sister she is more bigger and has a more futuristic looking superstructure compared to america sister ship’s are ship’s with the same design and look.
Yeah, United States and america were designed by the same person, but they are NOT sister ships,
The song that go's perfectly with the SS Italis while she was Laid up is Doris Day's The partys over its all over my friend
I am confused by the missing funnel, as she had two.
Just today I have been working on improving/salvaging photos my parents took during our voyage on the S.S. United States in May of 1958. One image that I almost didn't look at because it looked to be just some traces of grey in white, now very clearly shows this ship docked on one side of the United States Lines pier in New York and the United States to her left on the other side of the pier. Two more piers to their left is the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth.
@@MarkWick Well, when the Greeks rebought the ship in the late 1970s, they found that the forward funnel was badly corroded and decided to reduce it to a stump; they also thought it would modernise the exterior to compete with newer ships. The Italis only lasted for one season before she was laid up as seen here.
My family sailed on her from Ireland to New York many years ago. I was all of three years old then. Memories are a bit vague now. I do remember hitting rough seas though.
Gran bel video, grazie! É un gran peccato che sia andata persa...
Thank you. So nice to see her complete and inside and observe and compare to the qm2.
In this video,the ship is in greece?And more specifically in Elefsina port???
Elefsina is a town near to Athens
Home for me in 1970 for three months
Excellent footage! This must have only been a few months before she was wrecked. You had a great camera for the early 90s!
@@nickshipway8199 It was taken as part of a documentary about the ship.
I hope those Art Deco fittings were rescued?
Nope
recuerdo perfectamente cuando avisaron a salvamento marítimo para que fuera a evacuar a la tripulación de ese barco. Al principio no se sabía quién se iba a hacer responsable de ese barco. poco a poco cada vez se iba oxidando y rompiendo más. en la situación en la que estaba se llegó a crear una playa artificial y muchas personas llegaban caminando y se metían dentro del buque. cuándo subí a la marea no podía salir y tenían que ser rescatados en un helicóptero. eres impresionante ver el barco doblado por la mitad.
Haunting...
why do the interiors look like my classroom at night time
This was when she was not being used. She was not in service by then.
The fact that such a buetiful ship had such a fate is unfortunate
Definitely!
And look at her sister ship the last of her kind a literally rotting away tied up to a dock very sad and heading for a scrap yard
United States
@@matthewcox6615they are planning to turn that boat into a prison ship in the 80s
Какая печальная судьба этого красивого корабля!!!
А мог быть памятником
No friend, she broke apart and is gone from us forever 🌹⚓
When was this made? Inside it didn't look so bad than.....thanx.
@Stefan Josef , Her construction started in 1938 and launched in 1939, sadly, she is now fully sunken, with little remaining.
She was laid down around either 1937-1938 she was launched in 1939 and entered service in 1940. This was filmed in 1992
@@emperorryanii actually he meant. When this was filmed not when she was constructed
Unfortunately, she's gone. She was wrecked at Fuerteventura in 1994 while under tow. She ran aground where she remains today. She started to break up shortly thereafter and by 2008, she was gone. She completely succumbed to the sea and is only visible at low tide. Such a sad demise for such an elegant lady. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_America_(1939); th-cam.com/video/GLQ1Y42yJpM/w-d-xo.html
This is why we MUST save her sister, the S.S. United States: www.ssusc.org/; She too faces an uncertain future!
This reminds me of something I heard in a movie: 'I see nothing but the shadows of ghosts.'
is this the movie prop for 'Ghost Ship'?
The basis for the fictional "Antonia Graza" in movie Ghost Ship was CGI (computer graphic imaging) of the real, unfortunate, "Andrea Doria"
The basis for fictional "Antonia Graza" in movie Ghost Ship was CGI ( computer graphic imaging) of real, unfortunate, "Andrea Doria".
Certainly does look like a horror film set! From the same era too!
@@kenhanks9620 the ship in that film was a model which they filmed. Certain sequences were CGI though
Veľká škoda krásna loď 😪😪
This was more intact at abandonment than the SS United States is in preservation. Please tell me that artifacts were removed prior to her final demise.
Man that's a shame for this ship to go down like that yet have all the things that made her so grand and gorgeous. It's like watching all that slowly break apart and disappear into the waves
It's interesting to see the interiors of the ship still exist, most of the time they're gutted and it's just exposed steel and empty spaces. All things come to pass.
It's really sad this ship it's been abandoned like that 😭
She was the Australis in 1975 when she brought my family from Australia back to America.
3:06 that’s the stump of the rear mast. Also A lifeboat with its stern sliced off can be seen behind it.
This footage belongs to Olivier Guiton and Peter Knego or both.
If this was her state in 1979, imagine what fifteen years of neglect did before she ended up in Fuerteventura.
do you mind if I use some of this footage for a video about the ss America.
Of course you can! I hope to have footage of her spread around so that she will never be forgotten.
@@matthewcox6615 Thank you.
@@matthewcox6615 Good on you my man! Actually to you as well White Star Line fanboy. Keep her legacy alive!
@@whoohaaXL America was a special ship and she deserves to be remembered for what she was.
It really sickens me that they did not take care of her before washing up ashore and breaking in half. Heck she could've been a museum or a hotel just like the Queen Mary.
@Kyle Boester What happened to the America was a huge loss for the historic maritime community. The ship was once the pride of its country has been abandoned and claimed by the sea. For me personally, it was a tragedy that this happened at all, it once roamed the waves with beauty and class, now a faded memory of another time.
@@matthewcox6615 yes I 100% agree with you. And actually all ships like this one were full of beauty in their own special way. No matter what time period they were in.
@@kyleboester4005 The thing I find fascinating about this ship is its story, it was launched before the Second World War and ended up having a long and diverse career. Its fate is also fascinating, to see such a huge ship surrendering to nature is almost unbelievable, slowly being eaten until nothing was left. Nature is unimaginably powerful and should always be respected and feared.
@@matthewcox6615 And now sadly there's nothing left except for the haul with it's engine's and boilers sticking out. Well, depending on the tide.
Because people are stupid
It reminds me the Virginian, in the movie "The Legend of 1900" when the ship was waiting to be demolished
4:28 and here it is
Thanks for sharing!!! Wow!!
USS Westpoint 1941-1946
SS America 1946-1964
SS Australis 1964-1977
SS America 1978
SS Italis 1978-1980
SS Noga 1980-1984
SS Alferdoss 1984-1993
SS American Star 1993-2008
Heartbreaking
They had the perfect chance to reattach the line so they can tow it
Still breaks my heart to see this.
How long did she sit abandoned
Joseph Mueller I believe it was 14 years from 1979 to 1993 that she was laid up in Greece.
When was this filmed?
1992
@@matthewcox6615 Thanks.
How old is this Video?!
Read the description mate, the video is from 1979
What year of video
1992
I see only the name "Noga" on the stern and not on the bow. I wonder if she ever carried the name Alferdoss. Or only on paper .
The name Alferdoss I suspect was only on paper or registers for laid out tonnage.
Only her port bow is Alferdoss
Was*
The stern and starboard bow was Noga
It says ITALIS on the bow and on the dummy funnel stump. It only says noga on the stern
Literally looks like the titanic. I see this scenario time and time again where a car,truck, boat, building, whatever reaches it's bottom values before it becomes historical. Some make it some get scrapped or ruined. This ship was too big too expensive to pull her from this situation. Had she been in a port intact probably could been restored. Your talking lead paint, asbestos, repower. Big big job.
itane megalitero apo to titaniko afto??
Oh my.
I LOVE OLD LINERS AND THIS WAS NOT the right way for her to die - she was BEAUTIFUL and people would have paid to cruise on her again if someone had bothered to save her - Instead left as aa derelict wreck smashed to bits by the sea. SO SO SAD🤬🤬😭😭😭
This the one in greece?
@@PaulBateman-lb7wt Yes. Late 1980s.
Did you have to avoid the authorities to board this or are they not that strict?
@@michaelstephens360 I couldn't say because this was from a documentary.
Well, actually sad after seeing how she looks today ....
did you film this
I wondered what she looked like before she was wrecked. Not in amazing shape at all but good to see all the same.
❤5:13 🎉 LET'S MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN🎉 2:43
O ss America era um navio muito lindo e luxuoso mais depois de tanto tenpo em funcionamento ele ficou feio por Qualsa da sua estrutura quase enferrujada pelo tenpo
Why can't it move on its own anymore?
@@randyclarke6284 It had been sitting around for a long time and the engines no longer worked; plus, the ship was beached in late 80s due to a burst bilge pipe that flooded the lower decks.
Gli interni erano una meraviglia
Just saw a video of her now, half is totally gone and she is stripped bare
Only her port bow was the alferdoss. The Stern and starboard remaied Noga
It still reads italis on the dummy funnel stump and on the bow
@@jamesholton2630its not a dummy funnel
It’s the stump of the forward dummy funnel
Remember! the footage is now outdated and the ship is in much worse state, ready to fall apart at any moment.
Sad end
SS Alferdoss has a old age The company bought the vessel and turning into prison ship and floaty abandoned and but interior except
Can you interact with that telegraph? 1:15
So Sad
A sad fate for a grand lady.
@@newdefsys In a way, all ocean liners are tragic because of their beauty.
Sad, so sad.
Same/similar fate as what's about to happen to the SS United States. Sad.
Liked and Saved!!!!
RIP SS America 😢😢😢
there is nothing left of the ship in 2024
Why did they didn't want go to my engine room
It would be completely pitch dark down there, so pretty dangerous, and creepy as hell to boot. The public spaces and staterooms are eerie enough, full of the ghosts of better times in the fading light of an overcast day. Kinda fitting given what would happen to her later on.
Am i a creepy ship?
@@Legenz-v6q You are now.
@@earthman6700 I don't think she is creepier than the RMS queen mary though
SS America is gone. She died in 2014
So sad
Old telegraphs: 3:18
0:56 it’s not the alferdoss, it’s the ITALIS
Look very closely
on that time ss america is noga and she is now about to be scrap at that time then paid out so the scrapping end
😊 5:05