Topic: What a State! Sugar Daddy vs Scrap?

The historic SS United States is in "imminent danger" of being sold off to be used as scrap metal, according to the conservation group SOS (Save Our Ship).



Currently owned by NCL, the once 'fastest ship to cross the Atlantic', will be sold by the end of the month to the highest bidder, regardless of their intentions.

"This is it," says Dan McSweeney, conservancy director. "We could lose this symbol of the United States."

In a statement, NCL says it is looking for "a suitable buyer." Asked whether that definition includes scrappers, AnneMarie Mathews of NCL says it means any "U.S. entity that has the funds to purchase the ship."

Speaking to USA Today, Peter Knego, an ocean liner historian, says almost all such vessels eventually are scrapped: "NCL will be vilified for this, but it's the natural order of things." He says a scrapper is the only likely buyer.

The rusting ship which last sailed in 1969, has been docked in Philadelphia since 1996. NCL says insurance, maintenance and dockage fees cost $800,000 a year.

NCL purchased the ship in 2003, with plans to refit it for its Hawaii cruise business. The venture failed through financial losses, and the United States stayed put.

NCL listed the vessel for sale last year and, at first, offered it the conservancy. But the group does not have $1.5 million to buy it and has not found a buyer willing to preserve it.

"Bottom line: We need a sugar daddy if we're going to save this ship," DeGiulio says. Knego calls that "a real long shot."

SOS hopes to rescue the ship through a public subscription drive:



Launched in 1952, the once sleek, SS United States was a symbol of post-war supremacy. The government paid two-thirds of its $70 million cost, which wanted a way to ferry troops quickly to Europe.

Her maiden voyage took passengers to New York to England in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes. It cruised far below its top speed (which was 'classified') — and still broke the Queen Mary's 14-year-old record by 10 hours.

Posted this campaign in the QE2 thread last week, wasn't sure how may UK folks would know her....

http://www.cruises.co.uk/109-cruise_...html#post37130

I saw a programme on television all about the fastest crossings on the Atlantic and the award was the Blue ribbon , there were some great ships who had achieved this record quite a few British, and the ones you would expect to win such as Cunard , PO, I think either the Normandy or the France were incuded and may be a German vessel (I stand to be corrected )one of those shown was the
USS United states. She must be quite old for a ship now as she was launched in the 1950's during which she won the award.

The "United States" was part funded with a huge US government subsidy, and was built in such a way that she could quickly be converted to a large troop carrier should the need arise. What puzzles me is why she was not consigned to the "mothball" fleet after she was taken out of service with US LInes, if she had, she would have been in much better shape than she is today and a far better attraction to any prospective buyer, as things are sad to say, it appears more and more likely that a collision with an Indian beach will be her ultimate fate unless miracles STILL happen.