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NDR Documentary 1999: The Wreck Of The AMERICA ... |
Editorīs note: Without question, we deal with a documentary that regained "momentum" again. Because of the dramatic events surrounding the AMERICAN STARīs wreck at the turn of the year 2005/2006, it has been discussed again: The TV documentary by NDR from 1999 shown twice again by channel BR-Alpha around Easter 2006.
This
documentary by Manfred Preckel deals with current-events dating
back quite some time (on the one hand with AMERICAN STARīs running aground
off Fuerteventura in 1994, and on the other hand with the "entering"
of the wreck several years later as part of a happening by artist
Klaus Behrends). But these events and also the TV documentary are
again part of public interest and of many readers sending us lots of
mail and questions.
We take this opportunity to introduce NDRīs TV documentary fitting
very well in our chain of reporting and touching some still unanswered
questions: Ultimately, the DVD with a copy of this almost 45 minutes
long cult film belongs into collections of every true fan of the famous
ship - and there, directly next to the
Special Edition CD "AMERICAN STAR"
.
Well, we are happy to tell you about how to obtain a copy - more at the end of this report ...
As many of our reports about the American Star, NDRīs documentary starts with the memorable night before January 18, 1994. A Ukrainian tug pulling the rudder- and powerless ocean giant is on her way to Thailand according to information. When the towline tears apart during a severe storm, the crew concentrates on rescuing the four crewmembers supposedly staying on board of the American Star at that time, and leaves the ship with natureīs fury that drifts the ship towards Fuerteventuraīs coast and runs it aground.
Then leader of Fuerteventuraīs portīs authority, Don Felix I, explained in front of TV cameras that not everything has been clarified in conjunction with American Starīs running aground. Rescue was not requested by the Ukrainian tug and they did a "hit and run." Without taking care of the situation later on, they fled the scene in direction of Agadir in Morocco where the tug was finally captured and was asked to return to Spanish waters to shed some light on the incident.
The Ukrainian shipping company did not seem to be very cooperative later on: They refused an interview with the film crew regarding the accusations because everything was already "cleared" ...
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The documentary deals extensively with the period right after running aground: With the help of amateur videos it shows how the locals first "conquered" and totally looted the wreck down to the last brass frame of the portholes. With help of a self constructed cable car to the wreck - eventually operated and controlled via the back axle of a car - the expansion of sales of the "finds" follows. Even many locals find work and money here: Everybody working here was called "El loco de barco" - "the nut from the ship" ...
And finally, we get to know Ibrahim Quintana - this man was the one who then unemployed "looted" the wreck with others for several months and eventually came up with a business idea including the interior furnishing of the American Star: The Cafeteria El Naufragio in Puerto del Rosario was founded by him with all the interior decorations. The NDR documentary shows us in details the whole AMERICAN STAR collection of this man presenting also original artwork by the American artist Charles Baskerville from 1946 to the last turn knob of the former SS AMERICA from his assortment ...
We
learn some things about the then dangerous work on board especially
during the first months after running aground and during the
time of the ongoing destruction of the stern.
There is also some information regarding the involvement of the military. You learn that the wreck is in possession of the Ministry of Defence since the insurance was not interested anymore. And there are also some scenes showing the new owners at work.
We see helicopters surrounding the ship during shooting exercises
and not being deterred by looters who were on board at that time - one
was never really too concerned in this country ...
The second part of the documentary takes place years later: At the end of the 90ies, you can already see the first little "bow hole" and still adventurers climb on board in search for artifacts. On the lower part of the still existing frontal ladder (these were welded outside for the towing of the ship), we see the painted "Prohibido el paso" - "entering prohibited" - that years later has already been eaten by rust and by the sea.
We get to know the leader of the rescue center in Pajara, who tells in front of the camera that the wreck has taken several lives and that a number of visitors have to be picked up by helicopter - a long story from riptides and undercurrents through the broken stern which will be told in a couple of minutes ...
The
film also talks about the unbelievable story of the Greek Nicolas
- called "El Greco" who obtained the wreck from the Ministry of Defence
since he wanted to make the bow floatable again after scrapping the
stern and to take it on tour through the Mediterranean harbors.
Since these plans were never realized, the rights were returned to the Ministry of Defence and only the rusty remainders of the containers on the cliff across the ship where we had our "final fiesta" remind on the activities of the "ominous" Greek ...
And now, we will deal with artist Klaus Berends who has a lot more to tell about the Greekīs activities in the film and who wants to go on board of the wreck with a film crew as part of an artistic event. Klaus Berends, already living on Fuerteventura for 15 years when the NDR documentary was created, took SS AMERICA artifacts for his exhibition by himself and turned those into art. This exhibition was shown later on in various European cities, for instance, in Germany in Bremerhavenīs "Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum" in 1998.
The film crew wants to go on board of the wreck with the artist Klaus Behrends: In his latest project, Klaus Behrends wants to let the wreck shine again in her old glamour. A lot of equipment has to be brought on board, among others, 90 spotlights and lamps, 800 meter of cable, two generators weighing about 40 kg ...
The government authorized this event which will be secured accordingly: The fire department and rescue swimmers from Pajara are available, a rubber boat with engine will be used as means of transportation and the whole event can only take place during favorable wind and weather conditions. After waiting for several weeks for the right opportunity, it is finally happening: The artist and the whole film crew enter the wreck via the 28 meters high outside ladder. We are shown various scenes from the four hours on board available to us until the tide sets in - despite the "good' condition of the wreck at the end of the nineties, it is an eerie scenario ...
At
the same time, we can see the remaining propeller of the two in the
close-up photograph (see photograph on the right above) lying unchanged
on the forecastle. The other propeller was already lost during an unsuccessful "rescue"
attempt by the locals. (By the way: On the title photograph on the right
in the beginning, you may notice two dark spots on the bottom of the
white painted forward king posts: Those are the shipīs propellers sitting
at that spot at that time).
As we know today, the propeller shown in the documentary should stay on board for several more years. Only in April 2006, it was swept into the ocean due to the considerable slant of the wreck ...
The wreck is a gigantic discovery for the artist Klaus Behrends according to his own words and he wants to turn it into art through his light installment. In the documentary, the remainders of the SS AMERICA shine like art in the surrounding darkness and to the sounds of a ghostly song - a real grandiose sight of the same masterpiece ...
We quote the ending words of the well-done documentary:
"Still the sound of music seems to echo through the theater hall. A last time, the ship should shine in her old grandeur, remind on the old times of the transatlantic crossings when luxury liners like the AMERICA competed with each other during their voyages between the Old and New World for the honor of the "Blue Riband" - when the voyage between Europe and America was calculated by the days at sea and not hours in the air - a time that will never return ..."
How can you obtain a copy of the documentary?
The NDR copy service will produce a DVD of the requested show if interested. Please keep the following in mind: At the moment, there are two competing DVD formats on the market. NDR copy service uses the more common DVD-R format. If you are not sure, it is suggested to order a VHS copy since the individually produced DVD cannot be returned or exchanged.
As well be advised that the copy is done for personal use only. Any other than personal use is prohibited.
In order to use the copy service for a copy, it is necessary to transfer EURO 35.00 to the account mentioned below. After receipt of payment, an individual copy of the documentary will be produced and shipped. Delivery times can be up to four weeks depending on the individuality of the copy.
Important: When initiating the money transfer that can only be done through a private account, you have to include name, address, and the title of the documentary "Das Wrack der AMERICA". We requested a client number in advance and then initiated the transfer to the above account while using that number.
The address:
Renewal Parts-S.S. America: Agonie e...
NDR Mitschnittservice, Hugh-Greene-Weg 1, D-22529 Hamburg
Tel:
01805 / 11 77 71 (countrywide 12 cent/min)
Fax: +49 40 / 4156 6461
Email: mitschnittservice@ndr.de
Đ April 2006 Explorer Magazin, Photographs: "Das Wrack der America",
NDR 1999
English Translation: Britta Schaa, Venice Florida
