At 17 stories tall and four city blocks long the SS United States could hit 44 knots – 14 knots faster than today’s largest cruise ship. She now sits at a Philadelphia pier with an uncertain future. There was a bid by Norwegian Cruise Lines to restore the United States, but that fell through. It seems that this ol’ girl is destined to be cut up for scrap unless the SOS conservancy can make something happen.
I saw this story in Sea History, a quality quarterly magazine produced by The National Maritime Historical Society. The article says that after recent tests, the ship’s hull strength is 92% of original condition from when she was built in 1950. The building of the SS United States was a joint partnership between the U.S. government and United States Lines as a passenger ship built to Navy specifications so that she could easily be converted to a troop transport ship. Technically, I guess she belongs to all of us. Hopefully the story will have a happy ending.
Another good article on the SS United States in Popular Mechanics .
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Interesting. I used to drive past this ship every weekday morning and evening. Pictures cannot do justice to this vessel; she is HUGE and awesome.
Almost 50 mph – can you imagine.
There are folks who will take you aboard for tours. However, one person in the party carries a pellet gun. It is common knowledge along the Philly waterfront that the ship is home to a colony of rats, some of which are the size of small dogs. I’ve heard some really hair-raising stories.
The interior of the ship is in horrible condition. At one point she was very well-preserved; in “mothballs” so to speak. Then in the early 80′s the art-deco contents of the ship were sold at auction. She is empty now. Her huge propellers are stored on her afterdeck.
She needs to be cleared of asbestos; which would account for a large share of the restoration costs. All of her superstructure windows are outdated, many were broken during the two times that she was towed across the Atlantic. They all need updating as well. However, done right she would make a fantastic attraction. At the very least she would be a nice addition to a waterfront, like the retired Queen Mary is to Long Beach, CA.
it was was my dad's boat for a few hours in 1990