France SOS

Desperate attempts are being made to save the former transatlantic liner ?France?, ex-Norway, and now renamed ?Blue Lady?, from being dismantled in India where she has been languishing for the last couple of months while the Indian government decides whether or not to allow the 44 year ocean greyhound to be scrapped because of problems with toxic waste and asbestos.

The bid to save her comes from the French association “Club Le France Prestige” which aims to use her as a hotel and museum in Honfleur, France. The consortium is trying to raise 100 million Euro ($133 million) to recover the ship from the breakers and launched an appeal in October to attract new small investors to rescue what it calls “a monument”.

The vessel was beached at Alang on 15 August this year despite a long and major international controversy and an excellent bid from Dubai to save her as a hotel ship. However, on 17 August, the Indian Supreme Court met to make their decision on the fate of the former S/S France and called a halt to all moves to start scrapping the ship pending a further court decision. This will take place later this month and there is a slim chance that the ship may get an eleventh hour reprieve.