Queen Mary In Danger Of Sinking

The RMS Queen Mary is in danger of sinking. It's been in 85 years since its maiden voyage and five decades since it was docked in Long Beach as a tourist attraction.

Years of neglect have resulted in immediate repairs totaling $23 million, reports the Los Angeles Times.

If repairs aren't done soon there is concern that the ship could be in danger of sinking.

According to the LA Times, the ship's current state of disrepair includes corroded steel, an aging blige system, and many leaks and safety hazards.

The Queen Mary has been docked in Long Beach since 1967 and has struggled as a tourist attraction due to the high costs of maintaining a large vessel.

The city fought to move it to Hong Kong in 1992 but the plan fell through. The city also proposed to send the ship to Canada, New Zealand, and back to England throughout the years. All of the proposals failed, according to the LA Times.

"The city's been trying to get the Queen Mary right for 40-plus years," said Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia. "It's been from one leaseholder to the next. ... It has not succeeded to the point where there has been the right partner and the right preservation plan in place."

The Queen Mary has been shut down since May 7, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City officials said it does not have a set reopening date at this time.

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