LONG BEACH : New Study Lowers Cost of Repairing Queen Mary

A new study indicating the Queen Mary is in better condition than feared apparently has cleared the way for the City Council to take jurisdiction of the landmark and keep it in Long Beach.

The City Council on Tuesday directed the city attorney’s office to draft an agreement that would transfer the money-losing tourist attraction from the city’s independently governed Harbor Department. Final approval of the agreement is expected to come within two weeks.

A study of the ship by International Diving Services indicated that $6 million to $9 million in repairs would make the ship safe for the next few years, said City Manager James C. Hankla. A previous report indicated the ship would need as much as $12 million in repairs.

In addition, Harbor Department officials agreed to provide the city with an extra $2.5 million--bringing the total to $9 million--to make the repairs, officials said. Harbor Department officials had wanted to sell the Queen Mary to a Hong Kong firm for about $20 million.