SS AMERICAN STAR 1994 - photo courtesy of Javiar Casamar

The AMERICAN STAR had been considered again as a floating hotel off the island of Phuket and left Greece for again another refit. She was dry docked and surprisingly after many years of neglect her hull was in remarkably good condition. (It was her bilge pipes that had caused her flooding)

Her propellers were removed and stored on her bow to prevent drag and windmilling and she was taken under tow by the Ukrainian tug Neftegaz 67. It is said that the 'AMERICAN STAR' was on her way to Thailand, not to be scrapped but to be converted into a floating hotel.

On January 15th 1994, whilst been towed in the Atlantic Ocean near the Canary Islands a storm raged for many days and in rough weather the towlines broke and the 'AMERICAN STAR' was a drift with no power with four-salvage crew on board. Over the following days the Neftegaz 67 and a Spanish tug Punta Mayor, sent to assist, attempted unsuccessfully to get a towline on board. On January 17th 1994 the four crewmen were winched by helicopter to safety from the doomed ship. That morning she went aground, arguments between insurance companies, ownership and salvage commenced and this delay caused the the grand liner to break in half.

SS AMERICAN STAR 1994 aground on the island on Furenventura - Canary Islands courtesy Shipping today and yesterday magazine number 51

On 6th July 1994 she was declared a total loss, pounded by waves she now lies wrecked. The stern section just aft of the funnel has completely gone, rolled over and sunk. The bow section, still stands, as a monument to a great ship, but for how long depends on the weather, her condition and the unconfirmed reports of the army using her as shelling practice. - A sad and most undignified end to a once grand lady of the seas.

So now you know the history and the outcome of this fine ship.

From my "reports" button you can read about the Australian Syndicate headed by Bob Stone who wished to save the wreck and you can also view pictures taken on board the wreck in June 1999 from a German TV crew.

A typical shot of the wreck as it is today -photographer Graham Ridley- date unknown but based on the hole in the wreck i would put it at around 2000

The latest wreck photos can be viewed from my 'latest wreck' button or by clicking here.

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