Jim Pollin Throws A Lifeline to SS UNITED STATES
Press release from the SS United States Conservancy today:
JIM POLLIN PLEDGES TOTAL OF $220,000 TO HELP SAVE AMERICA’S FLAGSHIP – THE SS UNITED STATES
Cruise Industry Executive, Son of Late Capitals, Wizards Owner Saves Historic Propeller from Destruction, Makes Largest Contribution toward Saving the United States Since 2011
PHILADELPHIA, PA – June 17, 2014 – With the SS United States‘ historic five-bladed propellers just days away from being scrapped, cruise industry executive Jim Pollin has donated $120,000 to the SS United States Conservancy to save the propeller and support a national campaign to re-purpose America’s Flagship. The donation, as well as a pledge to match an additional $100,000 in other contributions for the ship’s upkeep, was announced this morning in front of the once Top Secret 60,000-pound propeller on board the SS UNITED STATES.
Handing over a big check to Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs in front of the 18-foot-wide bronze propeller on the ship’s stern, Pollin stressed the SS UNITED STATES’ historic importance and urged others to contribute. “This great ship represents the best of American ingenuity. She’s as iconic a symbol as the Washington Monument or Empire State Building, and she must not be destroyed on our watch,” he said. “I’ve stepped up to help, and I hope that my contribution will help generate additional donations and build major momentum for the day when we can finally say we’ve saved the United States.”
Pollin, the son of the late Abe Pollin, former owner of the Washington Wizards, Capitals and Mystics professional sports franchises, and women’s health expert, Irene Pollin, answered the Conservancy’s national call for a buyer to save the propeller and help prevent the ship’s destruction. Jim’s passion for ships and the sea was sparked in 1991, when he traveled from New York to Los Angeles aboard the QUEEN ELIZABETH 2. He left a long career in the airline industry to found The Pollin Group, a cruise management company that today serves a wide range of corporate, educational, and other group accounts.
The SS UNITED STATES, still the transatlantic speed record-holder and icon of mid-twentieth century American engineering, could be sold to a scrapper by summer’s end unless additional funds are raised to pay her formidable carrying costs in tandem with an investment deal to re-purpose the ship into a mixed-use destination.
“We hope Jim’s contribution will serve as an inspiration to others during this critical time. In so many ways, we’ve never been closer to ensuring that this great symbol of American innovation and our nation’s can-do spirit is saved for future generations,” stated Gibbs, whose grandfather William Francis Gibbs designed the vessel. “Jim’s generosity will help ensure that this propeller will remain aboard the ship, where it belongs. Now, we must save the rest of the vessel.” Four other propellers from the ship are on display in museums in New York and Virginia.
The redeveloped SS UNITED STATES would serve as a museum and provide more than 500,000 square feet of space for retail, restaurants, hospitality, open space, cultural and educational opportunities. The Conservancy has been advancing discussions in recent months with a number of real estate developers in New York and has identified several viable locations for the ship in her former home port.
“Our team continues to have encouraging discussions with developers in the New York area, and we’ve advanced plans for a dynamic shipboard SS United States Center for Design and Discovery,” said Gibbs. “However, this good news comes as we are issuing our final SOS for America’s Flagship. Without additional support from public officials and private donors, we’re only months away from the unthinkable,” said Gibbs.
“Destroying our nation’s flagship would send the wrong message at home and abroad about how our country views its historical accomplishments, our present-day challenges, and our dreams for the future.”
Those interested in making a tax-deductible contribution to the SS United States Conservancy can do so at www.SSUSC.org.
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This is a desperate move that I foresee as the prelude to failure.
Had this organization partnered with a high powered entity such as the Smithsonian and other corporate/private “investors,” the outcome might have been quite different. Shortly after the ship was purchased, I made a few specific recommendations but never received the courtesy of a reply.
By taking on a gargantuan project but thinking small, the result is nearly always failure. Simple math allows for no mistakes and this is the crux of this saga…
There are probably no stones that have not been turned for funds for the ship. It has been around in the state of decay for decades and whatever monies that have been raised or granted have long been used up. I do agree with Mr. Therrault up to a point. It is however quite disingenuous to slap the hand of one that responded the the call from the Conservancy as stated in Martin’s timely presentation of the release.
Yup, there is one propeller on display in Virginia, at the entrance to the Maritime Museum, at a hugely busy section of road, bisected with lefts and rights, stop signs, traffic lights, and a major hospital and a major university which flank this intersection. Does anyone see the propeller, or care, or know that the museum is even there?
All the money expended on SS UNITED STATES since she was tragically gutted (and in my view, denuded of what made her worth saving in the first place) could have materially assisted the ongoing preservation of QUEEN MARY, USS OLYMPIA, USS TEXAS and so many other worthy vessels already “saved” but at the mercy of continued funding to survive. You can’t save them all. And the time to act on UNITED STATES when it mattered was literally a quarter of a century ago.
Kenneth, Where in Virginia is this museum?
The MARINERS Museum is on Museum Dr, off Jefferson Ave Newport News VA
http://www.marinersmuseum.org
The United States, like the country after which hit was named, is built of stronger stuff then what some say. Indeed, she is extremely sturdy for an ocean liner on account of her secondary government trooping role she luckily never fulfilled. It would be a massive boom to the NYC or Boston area, for example, and would be invaluable to the economy, not to mention saving a cultural and engineering landmark of unparalleled dimensions. We have the $ and the people who could save her. What we need is greater awareness and even political willpower.
Justin, Whilst you may have the $$$s and the people who could save the United States, as Mr Kohler has already said, she has been denuded of most of what made her special in the first place. Say “1950s ocean liner” to most people and that will conjure up in their minds images of glamour and luxury, film stars and royalty. The ship is now a gutted hulk (I agree that she may well still be a very beautiful hulk) but whilst her exterior could still be returned to its original state she will never be able to evoke those images of glamour and luxury no matter what is done to the ship internally.
It is a sad fact that her career was cut short prematurely. So that now most people will only think of her as a rusting old ship that once sailed long ago and won’t be able to understand her importance at that time, or even care. “To Europe in 3 days and 10 hours?? But it only takes hours in a plane!!”
As I stated in another Maritime Matters article on the SS United States. What is needed to save this ship is the same publicity that helped get the Statue of Liberty restored. The SSUS Conservancy has no doubt, worked hard to save this ship, but more professional fundraising is needed. More awareness is needed. For example…how about something like a 4th of July fireworks display in close proximity of the ship ? How about local billboard displays, publicizing the ship ? After all, how many people sitting in Ikea having lunch, have no clue about the ship they can clearly see ?
I would venture a guess and say most don’t and that’s pretty sad.
This ship is our country’s namesake and look whats become of her.
When I look at the SS United States in it’s present condition, it reminds me in many ways, how our country once great, has also fallen into disrepair.
Lee Iaccoca, I believe spearheaded the drive to save Ellis Island. What is needed is someone who has the monies and the connection to save the ship. Hey… Mr. Trump!
How about saving the S.S. United States!
Well at least we won’t have to put up with the Conservancy whining and crying for more money. For 3 or 4 month’s? They will be in the same situation in the fall. I’am sure the dock owner is happy. The Conservancy has had the ship for 3 and a half year’s now. I don’t see anyone stepping up to the plate to save her. And I don’t think anybody will. Heck the Love Boat was not saved.
Ships conservation can be a huge moneypit. Here in the Netherlands
a building society (providing housing to lower income class families)
saved the ship “S.S. Rotterdam” from scrapping. Finally the bill
exceeded the initial budget more than 10-fold, leading to the
demise of the CEO responsable. However, more than four fifths of
the job was done already and other parties took over to cover the
remainder of the bills. If this was known in advance we almost
certainly would have lost a valuable part of our marine history.
Now, owned by a hotal magnate, the ship is, like the Queen Mary
in Long Beach, an asset to the city of Rotterdam.
Nelson,
The Love Boat does not have the historical significance that the SS United States has. Besides…it was in far worse shape structurally, than the SSUS currently is.
I am not sure I agree that the “Love Boat” is less historically significant than the UNITED STATES. PACIFIC PRINCESS and its role in the tv series “The Love Boat” was a catalyst for the renaissance of passenger shipping into the modern day cruise industry.
UNITED STATES developmentally was a dead end, a ship that introduced nothing new or remarkable in the design of the passenger liner nor one that could save the demise of the passenger liner. She was more lasts than firsts including being the last three-class liner for the NY-Channel Ports run. She was a very fast ocean liner that, in the end, spent her short 18-year career sailing at the same speed as QUEEN MARY, QUEEN ELIZABETH, FRANCE and QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 and one that never served in her other designed capacity, that of a troop transport.
I still tend to lean towards the fact that the gutting actually would bring the price of a conversion down, as the asbestos removal would have been cost-prohibitive. Regardless, they would have to recreate most of the interiors in any conversion.
Peter,
The Love Boat (Pacific Princess) may have a role in TV history and be responsible in some ways, for the resurgence in cruising. However, as far as the shipping industry goes, the SS United States is IMHO, more historically significant.
Yes it had a short cruising career, but in that short time was able to cross the Atlantic faster than any other ocean liner…a record that STILL stands today. The SSUS could travel faster in reverse than the Love Boat could go forward. She did not spend the rest of her days consistantly cruising at Queen Mary speeds across the Atlantic as you noted. The SSUS was also the only ship built with the cooperation of the US Navy and could be quickly converted to troop ship status.
Finally as testament to her build, as she currently stands 45 years removed from cruising, she is still in better shape structurally than the Love Boat was prior to scrapping.
Sorry, you are quite mistaken. UNITED STATES operated at the identical speed as all the other “five-day boats” from New York-Southampton and v.v. The same as QUEEN MARY and QUEEN ELIZABETH and the same as FRANCE with which she was paired from 1962 onwards with matched sailings to offer a weekly joint service. The notion that UNITED STATES was “faster” is true only with her potential, her single Blue Riband round voyage and a handful of crossings, including one in 1966, that she steamed faster owing to scheduling delays, strikes or weather. In everyday service, she didn’t sail a single knot faster than her competition. She was built and designed as a five-day ship between NY-Southampton/Channel ports.
Peter,
I guess we’re going to have to agree, to disagree.
While the SS United States didn’t make ocean crossings at her Blue Riband speed, due in large part to unprofitable fuel consumption at that speed, her “service” speed was between 27 and 30 knots as attested to by several former SSUS mechanics/engineers.
All other ships like the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and France cruised at a more leisurely “service” speed between 21 to 24 knots. This difference in speed didn’t get the SS United States to NY/Southampton and back that much sooner, but I just wanted to clarify my statement on her “service” speed.
Again, sorry.. this is simply not correct. Facts are facts. Even on the internet. Distance. Speed. It’s the same for any ship. Or car. Or bicycle. To cross the North Atlantic between New York and Southampton or vv. in five days requires the same speed from any vessel be it QUEEN MARY or UNITED STATES. All of these ships sailed at the SAME cruising speed to accomplish the same thing. And that was an average of 27-30 knots depending on weather. And all of this is pretty easily documented. The idea that UNITED STATES crossed the Atlantic in 5 days at 27-30 knots and FRANCE or QUEEN MARY crossed in 5 days at 21-24 knots is… nonsense!
Peter,
I think we’re beating a dead horse here.
The difference in arrival time between a ship traveling at 24 knots and a ship traveling at 30 knots can be measured in hours, not days.
It IS possible for 2 ships traveling the same distance at a negligible difference in speed, to arrive a matter of hours apart not days. Hence, both the SSUS and Queen Mary could arrive in the same 5 day time frame even if traveling at different speeds.
If you and I leave NYC for Boston in separate cars with you driving at 70 MPH and me driving at 65 MPH. The difference in our arrival times would be measured in hours not days.
John
While I’m not involved in the conservancy, I do wonder what they are thinking….
When they got their multi million dollar donation, I suggested that they move the ship somewhere cheaper for storage. I got no response.
I noted they were supposedly paying about $80K per month for the current space, which would be an impossible situation with the money they recieved.
Storage at a site, such as Norfolk, while difficult to negotiate, would have saved a huge amount of money, that could then be put into painting the ship, rust control, etc.
Does it not make sense to reduce costs as much as possible, while seeking a place to put the ship and redevelop her?
JFOK, I’m not too familiar with the timetables from the entirety of the ships’ careers in question, but always thought the Queens operated at a 28.5 kt service speed. 24 knots adds about 16% more time to the crossing, so if the baseline is 5 days at 28.5 kt, then it would be 5.8 days at 24 kt — nearly a full day.
I think the reports you heard were probably a case of “our ship is better than your ship” hype, of which there has been perhaps excessively much about the SS United States in particular.
Eric, two things: one, to move the ship is an expensive endeavor in itself. Towing, insurance, and logistics can add up to the millions, thus negating any savings from cheaper lodgings. Two, I doubt Norfolk, or practically anywhere, could be cheaper than that slip in Philadelphia. Once the United States is gone, it’s doubtful there will be much demand for it as dock space. Philadelphia is not exactly a bustling port, whereas Norfolk does actually have some maritime demand, however small.
The ultimate problem is that is will cost perhaps $200 million to do anything meaningful with a ship that wasn’t really very special except as an engineering feat. That would feed a lot of homeless people, buy a lot of school books, or if you prefer, pay for part of a stadium for some middling major league sports team.
I’m afraid her fate was sealed when she was stripped and gutted – Raising in excess of $300,000,000. to save some wasted shell plating is a counter productive. I agree with Mr. Liscom and others who have made perfect common sense.
Please elaborate, Glen.
$3 hundred million – ?
I personally still think you can do a lot with an empty shell. Kenneth, $300,000,000 is the estimated cost of restoring the SS United States. Were there still asbestos aboard, it would probably be more.
Hi Ken: As I have said many times – there are few people that love these Grand Old Ladies of the sea as much as I do myself. That being said if the big “U” was restored to original specs I think you would find this figure conservative. Her former owner NCL has pointed out American yards were not even interested in the project. I realize the many factors involved that forced her into the position she is in now.but it is very sad she wasn’t left in the state that United States Lines Co. left her in during her final layup until proper funding was available. No one took better care of their ships then U.S.L. Gen. Franklin was top notch when it came to management as his daughter Laura will attest.
I did ask the Conservancy about cheaper moorage for the ship some time ago. They said this was best deal available. Let’s face it unless some miracle happens. Her next voyage will be to the scrap yard. Unless she is picked a part piece by piece. Right where she is docked??
Sorry, Queen Mary & Queen Elizabeth were 28.5 knot service speed ships. The entire concept of the two ship express service was predicated on them maintaining this speed to ensure enough turn around time to run the service with two vessels. A 21-24 knot speed range required a three ship service (ie Berengaria, Aquitania, Mauretania). The United States Lines always suffered in this regard as they were never able to match up Leviathan & later SSUS with a comparable running mate.
Nelson: I have it on good authority the “conservancy” have been quietly scrapping parts of the vessel to raise $ for at least a year.
I’m not going to say anymore about it because the incompetence and complete lack of any creative thought by this organization infuriates me.