last call for the SS United States?

[smeyer418]

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-historic-ship-philly-short-funds-time-064434914.html

[trajan]

http://news.yahoo.com/ap-historic-ship-philly-short-funds-time-064434914.html

 

Ty for link. So torn on this: On the one hand it is or was a beautiful ship, some of the art was spectacular, and it would be awesome to see it restored but the costs would be astronomical. The preservation group went through $5.8 mil in 20 months just keeping it moored and doing the most minimal, basic work. I hate to say I lean towards just letting it go unless a business interest can come up with a solid self sustaining plan.

[beachmonkey]

I am a big cruise ship dork and the SS United States is a favorite. I used to see it in Philly all the time. I have supported the conservation efforts and even given honorary part of the ship away as gifts to some friends. I wish I knew how to save it for some use, but the longer it sits...the less likely it will be that it survives.

[camz]

That is very sad. :( I am hoping they come up with a good plan of action to keep the ship afloat.

[Laszlo]

Personally they couldn't turn it into a reef or scrap fast enough. Its been berthed in the same place for many years. It won't be any shock in the don't come up with the money. I don't think the folks running the deal have any idea of the amount of millions of dollars it will take to restore it. Then what??? Turn it into a hotel? Casino?. Talks have been underway for years.................... Sorry but its been a eye sore for a while now

[American_in_York]

My parents immigrated from England to American in 1958. They sailed on the USS United States from Southampton. My mother who did not want to go and who especially did not want to spend 7 days on a ship was not happy. My father explained that the United States was the fastest and the most modern ship in the world. She still didn't move from the bathroom for the entire trip. I still remember my father telling me how proud he was when he saw the Statue of Liberty when they arrived in New York. These are just personal memories but I guess we all have to be practical in the end and she will surely have to be scrapped. :(

[dwjoe]

NCL bought the SS United States in 2003 with the idea of restoring her for Hawaiian service but those plans have fallen through.

 

She still holds the "Blue Riband" for fastest passenger crossing of the Atlantic, and was capable of speeds in excess of 35 knots in her day (and 20 knots astern, even).

 

In the Gem's card room, original menus and literature from the SS United States are displayed.

 

Sadly, economic realities are such that this great liner is probably destined for the scrap heap.

[smeyer418]

FWIW unless you get big pockets or a government behind this it will be very difficult, I said that when the group announced they were taking it over. The Intrepid has been through bankruptcy at least once and the Queen Mary docked in Long beach has been through bankruptcy twice. When the Intrepid was recenlty dry docked scraped and painted and the pier it was sitting on redone, it cost at least $80 million dollars...and that is without the cost of getting her out once she was stuck when they tried to remove her. The Corp of Engineers did that removal as an "exercise" in other words it was paid for by the DOD- you and me. Most of the 115! million dollars came through the City. yes I know it was not technically the city but the Hudson River Trust- which gets most of its money from PILOTS(payments in lieu of taxes) that the City is supposed to get any surplus of...and the pier was paid for by the City.

 

"This $115 million project

included demolishing and rebuilding Pier 86 where the Museum is based, dry-docking

and repairing the 47,000-ton Intrepid, completely restoring the interior of the vessel,

creating a brand new exhibit architecture, restoring many aircraft in the collection and

acquiring several new aircraft and making substantial changes to the organization

structure and managerial goals of Intrepid. " from their annual report

 

http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/Support-the-Intrepid/Info-for-Donors/documents/AnnualRpt07_09.aspx

 

I wish them well. Maybe the Intrepid Air and Space Museum wants it and can use the same "private" money to fix her up...

 

 

 

 

and oh btw the interior is mostly empty which is a good thing as all the asbestos was removed at great government expense 20 years ago. It would make a great casino and hotel in NY if they ever allow gambling...Hey Donnie Trump that is something you should invest in!

[Laszlo]

A restaurant in Nags Head (Outer Banks of NC) called Windmill Point had a lot of things from the ship. Art, Tables and chair and a full bar. WP closed down 3-4 years ago. Not sure what happened to the interior of it

[LOWTYD]

NCL bought the SS United States in 2003 with the idea of restoring her for Hawaiian service but those plans have fallen through.

 

She still holds the "Blue Riband" for fastest passenger crossing of the Atlantic, and was capable of speeds in excess of 35 knots in her day (and 20 knots astern, even).

 

In the Gem's card room, original menus and literature from the SS United States are displayed.

 

Sadly, economic realities are such that this great liner is probably destined for the scrap heap.

 

I have some menus, a passenger list ( try getting one of those on a ship today!) and some other SS. United States memorabilia that my husband got from his great Aunt who sailed her. Sure looked classy. It's a shame , but, like someone said, the longer it sits, the less like it will survive. :(

[Sequim88]

Too bad the SeawayMax on Great Lakes is 740 feet length (Welland Canal locks). "United States" could have a 2nd career, freshwater this time. Really audacious option - chop in half, tow through short locks and reassemble at a Great Lakes yard. The Soo Locks are plenty long giving range of Lakes Superioir, Michigan, Huron and Erie. Plenty of interesting ports. Biggest challenge would be economics of Winter shutdown. But refitted as a luxury cruise option - ala the Europe river cruises - it might have potential if it can get to the Great Lakes.

[time2cruise1]

Sad to see the end is near but the ship is like a dear relative on life support. All the organs have been removed, the brain is not functioning, yet they keep pumping $Ms into her. The kindest thing now is pull the plug and let her pass with some dignity before it is sitting on the bottom in Philly.

[Laszlo]

Sad to see the end is near but the ship is like a dear relative on life support. All the organs have been removed, the brain is not functioning, yet they keep pumping $Ms into her. The kindest thing now is pull the plug and let her pass with some dignity before it is sitting on the bottom in Philly.

 

We don't want it:eek: The lead paint has already polluted the waters enough.

 

It would never make it on the great lakes either. By the time they refit the ship you could build a brand new one for the same price

[Laszlo]

Cool videos

 

Saving The SS United States - CBS Sunday Morning - 2-17-13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA0YeI7l2Qg

 

SS United States on CBS Sunday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWOf2gd1-F8

 

 

Current condition

 

SS United States in The Daily, 9/23/2012

[lordchaos]

i am digusted and saddened that this is being allowed to happen to this ship. her hull is still 90% intact, after all these years. she was made so well. i think she is the only American classic oceanliner left. can we repost this article on ALL the threads and get everyone to please donate something. do not let this happen to her, like what happened to the Norway.

[smeyer418]

i am digusted and saddened that this is being allowed to happen to this ship. her hull is still 90% intact, after all these years. she was made so well. i think she is the only American classic oceanliner left. can we repost this article on ALL the threads and get everyone to please donate something. do not let this happen to her, like what happened to the Norway.

reasonable people can disagree. All the historic interior has been sold off. What is left is a thick steel hull that no one will use for a newly rebuilt ocean liner. Its too heavy. The "normal" life cycle of a ship is to built them use them and recycle the metal. Better than letting it set being used an a hotel that is old and tired(and in the words of Frank Sinatra looks like an old hooker). relatively few Navy ships have been saved from the breakers. Even the most storied of WWII air craft carriers- the Enterprise- went to the breakers. I would rather see the steel reused that have her sit forlorn at the pier. IMO..... would you let your taxes be used to maintain her?

[lordchaos]

i would like to see her brought back to NYC as a tourist destination like the Queen Mary in California. i think NY may be the only market that could keep her going. she is the only American ocean liner left, regardless of her being gutted. it is our nations flagship, and efforts should be made to preserve her. she is a part of history.

[beachmonkey]

I support the conservancy and hope for a workable solution...

 

That being said, just look at the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach. It has struggles for years and the ship continues to be neglected by the ownership.

[Laszlo]

i would like to see her brought back to NYC as a tourist destination like the Queen Mary in California. i think NY may be the only market that could keep her going. she is the only American ocean liner left, regardless of her being gutted. it is our nations flagship, and efforts should be made to preserve her. she is a part of history.

 

Maybe Trump will get involed:rolleyes: NYC has enough trouble with their waterfront attractions. Nope.........she is headed for the scrap yards. I say we take the money which has already been donated, decontaminate the ship and make a reef out of her. It would make for a cool dive site!!!!

[jingle5616]

http://www.foodforthepoor.org/

[smeyer418]

another article

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/07/travel/ocean-liner-united-states/index.html?hpt=hp_c3

 

lots of same quotes...

 

more pictures...

[bob brown]

I support the conservancy and hope for a workable solution...

 

That being said, just look at the RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach. It has struggles for years and the ship continues to be neglected by the ownership.

 

Another example of note is Holland America's Rotterdam (V), preserved in her namesake port as a combination hotel, museum, and conference center. She enjoyed a beautiful restoration, but I believe she too has funding issues.

 

So even though the SS United States is revered amongst ship lover's, the nation at large doesn't seem interested enough to make saving her a viable project. The government finances are such that there are far more important items to spend on. And someone like Donald Trump who may or may not have the means to save her, will only get involved if he can see making a profit out of it somehow.

 

I hope the faithful prove me wrong, but I don't see a future for 'Big U', except perhaps small sections of her preserved for museums or collector's after she goes to the breakers.....

[rydan]

The ship is rotting away in Phily. See her all the time from the bridge.

I say SCRAP HER. The USA has lost it's identity anyway.

 

Let it go to China. I'm sure there's plenty of lead paint they can scrape off to use in new toys we can import back from them and give it to our kids.

 

She still hold the transatlantic speed record. WHO CARES, letting it sit and rot away... Like everything else here. It's only a historic piece of AMERICAN maritime engineering.

 

Just another piece of our history to be lost.

[Princess@Sea]

Forget the past. The world has moved on.

[Laszlo]

These two ships (see link) are far more historical. They are being scrapped

 

http://maps.google.com/?ll=39.8858,-75.178725&spn=0.005014,0.008497&t=h&z=17