A $20 million increase in the estimated costs of subcontractors’ fees prompted United States Cruises to assign its entire project to the Alambama Drydock and Shipping Company. Originally, the United States was to be outfitted at the HDW yard in Hamburg and completed in Alabama.

“We had all our financing set to meet the prices that had been originally quoted to us, and we were not prepared to meet the additional costs. Alabama Drydock approached us with a favorable offer, and we decided to assign them the entire project,” said John Cox, vice president of the line.