The BIG U: Turn Of Events?
“With redevelopment goals closer than ever to coming to fruition”, the SS United States Conservancy’s Director, Susan Gibbs (granddaughter of the legendary ship’s designer, William Francis Gibbs), shared in a conference call to the conservancy’s board members and key supporters on Friday that “we are nonetheless closer than ever to losing the ship”. Gibbs has worked tirelessly for over a decade in efforts to find a new role for the historic liner, nicknamed “The Big U”, which has been idle since 1969.
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SS UNITED STATES at Philadelphia. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2012.
With monthly bills of over $60,000 to keep the former United States Lines flagship berthed, secure and insured at its current Philadelphia location, there is just enough funding to keep her in place through the end of October. Various campaigns to save the ship have been ongoing in one form or another for decades, from both the prior, now defunct, SS United States Foundation and the SS United States Conservancy.
SS UNITED STATES at Philadelphia. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2012.
The Conservancy is bound by confidentiality agreements with potential developers who have for nearly a year invested some $500,000 into the project. Gibbs was able to share that two locations have been selected for the re purposed ship to serve as a combination hotel and convention center and that rebuilding estimates have been culled from leading shipyards. “But if it doesn’t come together by the end of the month, it would be irresponsible for us to continue without a contingency plan.” That contingency plan would be to put the ship up for sale and the only likely viable buyers at this point would be scrap brokers.
Built in 1952, the 53,330 gross ton, 1,928-passenger SS UNITED STATES was the largest passenger ship ever constructed in the U.S. and to this day retains the speed record as the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic, which it did at an average speed of 35.59 knots on her maiden voyage. No liner or cruise ship has ever come close to challenging that record.
Felled by jet travel and high operating costs, the UNITED STATES was laid up in 1969 and kept in mothballs at Norfolk and later, Newport News, Virginia, until being sold to Richard Hadley, a Seattle-based developer with plans to return the ship to cruise service in 1978. In 1984, prior to an intended rebuilding, the ship’s vintage interiors were sold at auction. Eventually, Hadley’s plans were shelved and the ship was sold to Fred Mayer’s Marmara Marine in 1992. In 1994, the UNITED STATES was towed off to Turkey and the Ukraine for removal of her asbestos. The gutted and stripped ship was towed back to the U.S., arriving in Philadelphia in the summer of 1996.
SS UNITED STATES at Philadelphia. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2012.
In 2003, Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the UNITED STATES for its American division but after those plans were dropped, they agreed to sell her for half the scrap market price to the Conservancy, which took ownership in 2011. Since then, the Conservancy’s grass roots efforts to raise funding and awareness, coupled with large donations from private entities, have kept the ship afloat.
“After all this, it would be inconceivable for her to go down”, Gibbs stated. “It’s not over. This month is going to be intense.”
Peter Knego
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Hey people, it’s put up or shut up time. For as long as this wonderful site has been around, I’ve seen countless people lament how “someone should save that ship.” Enough already. If we can’t save one of the most important vessels of all time – our nation’s flagship – then so be it. But let’s not let her go down without one more fight. I challenge each enthusiast reading this to visit SSUSC.ORG now, right now, make a $20+ contribution then proudly add your name to this post. Be positive. Be proactive. Save Our Ship!
Just donated $100 to help save SS United States. Let’s give her our best shot, friends!
To Park you must remember many people have already given myself included but nothing seems tp happen ,people do not have a bottomless pit of money .
I want to see the ship saved but all there is is talk
Sadly, the reality that is…
Peter’s recent posting of his travels highlighted the condition of the much loved Queen Mary, desperately in need of a paint job… The QE2 is rarely mentioned now days, unless one searches on line…
Can anyone tell me why NCL bought her in 2003? Considering how they weren’t very interested in saving the France/Norway…
The SSUS has had a lot of time, money and dreams strewn around on the behalf of peoples desires and hopes. It is the people that hold these hopes, and as far as anyone can guess, not corporate or any other interest other than the devoted romantics that wish to see her saved. The only big player with any hope of saving the ship was Norwegian Cruise Line, quite possibly to replicate in some fashion the popularity the was the NORWAY .
Do I want to see the ship scrapped? Do chicken have teeth? I would like nothing more than to see her in new paint and welcoming to people in some fashion, however, time will tell, and the waiting may well be forthcoming whatever the fate.
I typed this over at the Yahoo SS United States Group this morning.
Its been well known for a while, that expenses are $60,000 a month, but the announcement yesterday from the Conservancy came like a “bolt out of the blue.”
Although the Conservancy did its best…having people like Billie Jean King, Dick Vermeil and Jim Nantz to further the cause, did nothing to stir up interest.
What’s needed is a Facebook “viral” post regarding the plight of the SS United States. Much like you see when for example, a sick child is highlighted and donations pour in to help that child.
The time is just about up for this mechanical marvel without an all out “blow out the doors” media blitz campaign. Instead of the weak…”please help us” that we are now seeing. If they truly love this ship and want to save it, they have to get off their asses and get moving.
The Conservancy has to come forward with who they are negotiating with as far as potential new sites and stop with the “we are in delicate negotiations and can’t reveal anything” crap. This secrecy is scaring off potential donators.
They have to try to renegotiate a better monthly fee with the insurance company they have and the dock owner to lower that $60,000 monthly bill. Truly these business people have to see the value in this great ship and want to be good Americans.
Not to get political but, this ship is named after our country and I for one, looking at her, see in many ways the present state of our country…run down and neglected. Our country deserves better and so does this ship.
John
Jeff, I agree we dont have endless money pits, but I do believe it is possible for the ship to still be saved. Look at how far she has come now. Been in layup most of her life. I believe she has been around this long for a reason and that reason sure is not just to go to the breakers.
This is very sad new, after fight ing so hard to keep this iconic vessel afloat. Here in the United Kingdom we save the majority of of our historic ships, we even dug up one ship the Mary Rose from the bottom of the sea. All members please donate as much as you can, once gone that’s it. I can’t bare the thought or see this beauty being cut up for scrap…
This is not good news at all, I hope the money comes in before the deadline.
To darren,
The main reason why NCL bought the United States was to prevent anyone else from buying it and potentially competing with them in Hawaii.
Under normal circumstances, only US-built and US-flagged ships may operate directly between US ports without stopping in a foreign country en route. NCL received a special exemption to flag the foreign built Pride of Hawaii and Pride of Aloha and the partially foreign built Pride of America in the US and operate them in Hawaii. Anyone else wanting to replicate their all-Hawaiian itineraries would have to do so with US-built ships like United States.
I suppose if everything had really gone well for NCL America and all their ships were full to capacity, they might have eventually rebuilt SS United States, but the Hawaiian market wound up being too small for their three original megaships and they had to scale back to just one, leaving the SS United States totally surplus.
The problem is that stationary ships are not profitable and ocean going ships are. The only way to save the Big U is to rebuild her into ocean going vessel. One option could be an crowdfunding concept which I`ve named “Cruise and become an owner of SS United States.
Capital required 410 mil / Usd
178 annual 2 night cruise 625 cabins = 112250 ” cruise shares”
Price of cruise share = 3700 Usd for vessel construction + 650 usd for cruise net cost for 2 persons for 2 night share holder cruise + 150 usd for project admin and pre – cruising costs and vessel inventories.
total 4500 usd / which could be around 100 usd / month for those who purchase the share by borrowing the money from a commercial bank. 4500 usd 4 years 11 % net interest = 101.50 usd / month
So you could save the Big U by 101.50 usd / month and for someone it might not theoretically cost anything if all the shareholders seeks new bids and discounts as a group of 112 250 persons which might lead to big savings in their every day life . You will get cheaper mobile phone, broadband services, home and car insurance, electricity, fuel (Shareholders could have on own Big U card wish gives an special discount on fuel ) <–and that could be an attractive way for several American companies to sponsor the project without exactly giving money into the project. These sponsors could also market the directed share issue in the own marketing material which could be a big help to the first shareholders to recruiting the the rest of the shareholders .
Andrew i am all for saving this beautiful ship , but what i mean is last December we were told an agreement of sorts had been reached so what has happend to this i emailed the conservancy and asked them never got a reply .There is a lack of information were close we hear all he time but we need more money .What i would like to know is there n agrement or not all it is at the moment is talk .
As i said i have donated but will not give anymore until i get more concrete information .I cannot believe such a wonderful ship has been left to rot when it was in such perfect condition when retired .
Buy the way i live in Australia
Wonder why NCL America and the Hawaiian route as well as the non-Hawaiian route that is NCL’s alone, by that, “sailing “””Norwegian””” (what crap that is) is simply that, the product is awful, has been for a very longtime.
If any other interest was available, then the SSUS would be sailing, in some fashion, either US registered or non, period. It all comes down to money. A Facebook blitz sounds ambitious, but, look at the audience A sick child or other tear jerking plight may draw sympathy, but an old white elephant ship? Don’t think so.
Great to read all the interesting and relevant comments but, like this, “all talk” blah blah blah. It’s ridiculous just to raise US$ 60,000 each month just to pay dock fees and insurance. The U.S as a whole should be ashamed to let this American icon of their brief history rot away whilst being quite happy to have a part of Britain’s heritage (i.e. Queen Mary) on their doorstep. When one thinks of the $ millions that MarAd spend each year keeping redundant ships mothballed in the Reserve Fleets! That said, Britain should feel equally ashamed to let QE2 rot away in Dubai when there are so many opportunities (and job creations) for her here at home. She could accommodate at least 3,000 Syrian migrants.
This is very sad. I shall do all I can to help prevent this from happening. Basically money and prayer are all I can offer.
The plight of the ship has been noted in several major instances here, newspaper and TV news media.
This morning Susan Gibbs was on the air and was interviewed at the dockside with the peeling hull serving as the back drop. Several interesting pictures and live action shots were also featured, probably taken from a camera mounted to a drone.
In the brief time period that this news item was given the message was succinct and clear.
In addition to the exterior shots of the peeling treasure, stills taken from her sailing days and deck activities, as well as other stills, one of Judy Garland (a glorious color photo, by the way), during one of several crossings she made in the ship, and and black and white of John Wayne during a sailing in the ship .
Ms. Gibbs deserves a lot of respect for her tireless dedication to this ship. Facts to the eventual futures were not forthcoming, the only hope she offered was that they (the conservancy) was close to their goal.
The plain and simple of it all, this purchase and dreams of a renewed SSUS amateurish at best. It almost seems that cocktail parties etc. were more important than collaborating with entities that could have provided free berthing or anchorage pending a partnership with a viable organization such as a major maritime preservation group or even the Smithsonian.
The first priority in my view would to reduce costs and embrace big money sources such as foundations etc. The need to think “big” was and is the only viable path to success. I suggested such just after the ship was purchased thanks to the contribution of one individual but of course never heard anything despite that during my working career I save employers hundreds of millions of dollars by improving processes and resolving issues after numerous people failed.
This ship is a major icon of American engineering and while I hope for the best I expect the worst…
Mr Therrault
One can only imagine what avenues have been explored to secure the safety and the future – should there be a future – of this ship. And I do hope there is a future.
Securing funds from millionaires or billionaires is ridiculous since the investment in money shall never see a financial gain or repayment to the investors.
Calling on museums and maritime associations to be sure was done to the point of exhaustion. As for free berthing, what planet do you live on. there is no free ride, or berth.
Cocktails? That is how funds are raised, where money is donated, and such galas are major events. Fundraising is hope the donors are coddled and coaxed to into donating.
Contributions from private individuals such as many that post here helps, that is how fund raising is done.
To state that the years of tireless and taxing work on the behalf of the SSUS Conservancy, yes, it is a foundation and not amateurish, as you state, has kept the ship around for a long time. Surely that is a plus for their efforts.
Since you claim to have saved millions for your employees, what have you saved for the SSUS Conservancy?
The ship is too far gone. The Queen Mary is in need of a new paint job. Is that likely to happen anytime soon? Does anyone seem to care? No. This ship is a rusted out hulk. It needs far more than just a new coat of paint. It’s just not worth saving just because it has the country’s name on it. Let it go and use money to help ships like the QM and the QE2 since they need far less work done.
Response to Mr. Eden who wrote,
“Since you claim to have saved millions for your employees, what have you saved for the SSUS Conservancy?”
Correction: EMPLOYERS, not “employees”
Your reply reflects exactly what is wrong with the mindset of current owners of the ship.
Here are a few facts of life for you to ponder…
When an item or piece of property becomes a drain on an organization’s operations, it is disposed of in a manner that serves that organization’s bottom line where the item is sold, donated or scrapped. That is the simple fact of doing business.
In the case of the SSUS, an item of historical significance, the ship was sold to a number of buyers most of whom had plans to refurbish the ship and every one of the previous owners lost large amounts of money. The last owner, Norwegian sold the ship at a loss to the Conservancy, a non profit.
The Conservancy’s immediate task should have been to relocate the ship to a cheap anchorage/dockage. This should have been attainable since this country has an excess of this commodity. Yes, the ship would have been gone from Philadelphia but so be it as a large leak in the organization’s resources would have been ended. Then the task of restoration could be considered.
While the ship remains structurally sound, it will take several hundred million dollars to “restore” the ship mostly due to the stripping of fittings that occurred decades ago. This is where “big picture” thinking was needed but none was in evidence. Overall, this is easily a billion dollar project.
So now, the ship will likely be scrapped with perhaps a few pieces being preserved. Maybe the Conservancy should consider something of the order of Conte Biancamano exhibit in Italy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Conte_Biancamano
Such an effort with the SSUS could well be feasible with the proceeds from scrapping the ship but preserving enough to become a functioning exhibit…
Additional reference to the Conte Biancamano exhibit above as excellently written by Peter Knego awhile back…
http://maritimematters.com/2010/04/conte-biancamano-decked/
How about Sparrow Cove in the Falklands? Let her sit there like some other gutted hulk did until someone realized just what was sitting there