SS America - Exploring the Alferdoss
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- In September 1979, the SS America (by then called the Italis) was laid up in Eleusis Bay near Piraeus in Greece where she would remain for many years.
She was taken out of service due to old age and economic reasons, by then she was just too old and uneconomical to continue sailing as well as serving as a passenger ship and carry passengers.
Whilst laid up she was sold and renamed twice, first in 1980 to Intercommerce Corporation who renamed her Noga and then in 1984 to Silver Moon Ferries who renamed her Alferdoss which meant "paradise" in Arabic.
However, she had nothing in common with her new name as that she was very badly neglected and was also found to be quite dangerous due to her age and state of neglect, in the late 1980s she almost sank because of a weak bilge pump and had to be beached in order to prevent her from sinking.
Her owners soon had no choice but to ultimately sell her for scrap, but only the lifeboats and their davits were dismantled as that the scrap dealer couldn't pay for the rest of the work to be done and had to return the ship to her owners.
By the early 90s and half a century since her completion in 1940, the former America was still afloat and was by then one of the last great ocean liners from the classic era still around, but her future seemed to be very bleak and it wouldn't be too long for her to finally be finished with once and for all.
This extraordinary footage taken from the French documentary Vie et Mort de l'America shows that despite her sad and neglected appearance, she was like a time capsule from the 1940s with much of her originality still in place and in an imaginative way allows one to go back in time and relive the experience of being on board the ship that was once the SS America.
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❤
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.
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.
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.
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
the interiors are beautiful yet haunting at the same time...
Rust In Pieces such a beautiful ship in its glory days. Once a magnificent ship is now rusting in pieces.
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..
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.
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.
SO SAD. I TRAVELED FROM FRANCE TO NY ON HER IN 1964.
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 !
wild how ALL of this is in the ocean now.
Fantastic love the story so sad how she ended 😭
My parents my sister and I emigrated to America on her in 1954 shame how she ended up!
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!
That ship is in the best condition I've seen a Old ship in without being Fully scraped
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
Sad, I remember her in her "second heyday" as the SS "Australis". Loudest ship's siren I have ever heard.
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!👍
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
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.
Gran bel video, grazie! É un gran peccato che sia andata persa...
I can always remember seeing her when I was young at Southampton docks
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 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!
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.
Какая печальная судьба этого красивого корабля!!!
А мог быть памятником
No friend, she broke apart and is gone from us forever 🌹⚓
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.
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,
Thank you. So nice to see her complete and inside and observe and compare to the qm2.
Veľká škoda krásna loď 😪😪
It's really sad this ship it's been abandoned like that 😭
This reminds me of something I heard in a movie: 'I see nothing but the shadows of ghosts.'
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
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
Heartbreaking
3:06 that’s the stump of the rear mast. Also A lifeboat with its stern sliced off can be seen behind it.
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.
They had the perfect chance to reattach the line so they can tow it
Thanks for sharing!!! Wow!!
Gli interni erano una meraviglia
Well, actually sad after seeing how she looks today ....
Haunting...
In this video,the ship is in greece?And more specifically in Elefsina port???
Elefsina is a town near to Athens
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
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
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.
Oh my.
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
This footage belongs to Olivier Guiton and Peter Knego or both.
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.
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!
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
I wondered what she looked like before she was wrecked. Not in amazing shape at all but good to see all the same.
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.
Sad end
Still breaks my heart to see this.
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
So Sad
SS Alferdoss has a old age The company bought the vessel and turning into prison ship and floaty abandoned and but interior except
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🤬🤬😭😭😭
When was this filmed?
1992
@@matthewcox6615 Thanks.
How old is this Video?!
Read the description mate, the video is from 1979
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
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.
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.
Remember! the footage is now outdated and the ship is in much worse state, ready to fall apart at any moment.
did you film this
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
What year of video
1992
RIP SS America 😢😢😢
0:56 it’s not the alferdoss, it’s the ITALIS
Look very closely
Liked and Saved!!!!
itane megalitero apo to titaniko afto??
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
wish she was just there and never was becoming to phukten
Old telegraphs: 3:18
😮wow😯
YUP
I’m happy for my birthday I hope that I get the day you go and come over here to the day I know you’re busy
😊 5:05
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?
@@Jefvin254 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
Can you interact with that telegraph? 1:15
COX
Hehe 😉