What happens to Cruise Ships that are Discontinued?
Ever wonder what happens to a cruise ship after years of service? In the end, cruise ships that have been in service for a long time can be sold, modernized, updated, or simply just discontinued. Will a cruise ship ending its service be ultimately dismantled after her last voyage, or will she sail again with a fresh coat of paint? In this article we investigate what happens to discontinued ships in order to learn a little more about the subject and the process and we will also analyze some of the possibilities of what is done to these ships.
The usual lifespan of a cruise ship is usually between 15 and 40 years. A cruise ship with more than 40 years of service requires very high maintenance to keep it running and sometimes may even be upgraded or go through a massive rebuild, which can be a very strong blow financially for a company. company.[1] A cruise ship may stay within the same parent company that created its concept, or it also may be passed on to other companies under a different name, sometimes passing from owner to owner.[2] So what is the truth of what can happen to a cruise ship that is about to be discontinued?
One detail that should be kept in mind is that at any time, a discontinued ship will be maintained, remodeled, even while it is sailing, and any discontinued cruise ship can also be sold, renamed, renovated, or even return to service updated with the latest technology used in the industry. This is sometimes referred to as "secondhand tonnage".[3] Another possibility, which can be rare, is that a discontinued cruise ship establishes itself at such a magnitude, that its creators or an aficionado may find unrivaled value on the vessel and decide to repurpose it as a permanent tourist attraction. The Queen Elizabeth 2, for example, which used to be an ocean liner is now used as a floating hotel in the city of Dubai.[4] On the other hand, there are cruise ships that unfortunately meet a horrible end, such as total abandonment. For instance, there were once a famous cruise ship named American Star, which was completely abandoned due to being ship abandoned.[5]
Shipwrecks are the worst-case scenario for how a cruise ship can be discontinued. A very sad end to what was once an incredible cruise ship, is its sinking due to an accident during navigation. A very famous and historic example is that of the cruise ship, Titanic. This cruise ship sank in 1912 during its maiden voyage across the Atlantic.[6] Another recent event of a sunken cruise ship at sea was the sinking of the Costa Concordia in 2012.[7] Some cruise ships, on the other hand, are purposefully sunk as an option to create artificial reefs.[8] These artificial reefs can help marine life and can become an excellent place to visit for those who practice scuba diving.
The most common and, in my opinion, most honorable way to retire a cruise ship would be to scrap the vessel. At the shipbreaking yard, the discontinued cruise ship is dismantled, but before being scrapped, the company may remove any useful items and then sell what they won't need or use. The ship is disassembled with great care, starting from the bow to the stern.[9] As a result of the dismantling, the material may be recycled and what is not considered useful will be confiscated. Steel from dismantled cruise ships can be reused int the construction of other ships.[10]
Finally, the reason for discontinuing a cruise ship can vary and will ultimately depend on the circumstances of its discontinuation and what its final destiny the cruise ship may have on its agenda.
[1] How Old is Your Cruiseship? Does it Matter?
https://www.frommers.com/tips/cruise/how-old-is-your-cruiseship-does-it-matter
[2] What happens to old cruise ships? https://cruise.blog/2021/12/what-happens-old-cruise-ships
[3] What happens to old cruise ships? https://cruise.blog/2021/12/what-happens-old-cruise-ships
[4] What happens to old cruise ships? https://cruise.blog/2021/12/what-happens-old-cruise-ships
[5] What happens to old cruise ships? https://cruise.blog/2021/12/what-happens-old-cruise-ships
[6] Titanic https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/titanic
[7] The wreck of the Costa Concordia https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2012/01/the-wreck-of-the-costa-concordia/100224/
[8] What happens to old cruise ships? https://cruise.blog/2021/12/what-happens-old-cruise-ships
[9] What happens to old cruise ships? https://cruise.blog/2021/12/what-happens-old-cruise-ships
[10] What happens to old cruise ships? https://cruise.blog/2021/12/what-happens-old-cruise-ships