The City of Long Beach will enter into negotiations for a Harbor Department takeover of Pier H—the home of the historic Queen Mary Oceanliner—after unanimous approval at its Tuesday, Sept. 14 meeting.
The City of Long Beach regained control of the Queen Mary—a ship whose ill-fated history has left it in a multi-million dollar state of disrepair—in June of this year after former owner Urban Commons surrendered its leases in bankruptcy court.
One key topic of negotiation will be the determination of the City and City Council’s role in regard to the Queen Mary, including financial responsibilities and how to fund the ship’s repairs.
Deferred maintenance has left the ship with up to $289 million in needed repairs, according to a 2017 marine survey.
In July, the council received a menu of potential options for the oceanliner. A “retire and recycle” option would dismantle the ship with a cost of $105 million to $190 million, according to city-hired engineering firm Moffatt & Nichol. The most costly option would be to drydock the ship for a cost of $200 to $500 million, if the Queen Mary’s hull can handle it.
Once negotiations are finished, the council will receive a report on a transition plan in the short term and a long-term plan for the land and Queen Mary. Final transition agreements will have to undergo approval from both the council and the Harbor Commission.
The ship is currently undergoing critical repairs and is expected to open back up to the public in 2022.