SS United States for the breakers yard ?

This is a thread about the sad plight of the SS United States, current holder of the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing by passenger liner. But, in a way, a strange parallel can be drawn between her fate and that of the nation which gave the ship her name.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/22f7b0a742d3.jpg[/atsimg]
SS United States in her heyday, 1956.

Completed in 1952, SS United States was built to compete with the British liners of the day & to provide the United States with a liner of sufficient capacity to carry a large number of troops during wartime. The majority of her costs were borne by the US taxpayer because the ship was built to a military specification, being heavily compartmentalised and equipped with twin, separated engine rooms to reduce her vulnerability during naval service. She is an amazing ship, lightweight for her size, a veritable ocean going greyhound. Sleek lines and an aluminium superstructure (on a scale unknown at the time) gave her the legs to sprint effortlessly when her British competitors would labour and on her maiden voyage (4th July 1952) she captured the Blue Riband from RMS Queen Mary by a staggering 10 hour margin.

How fast was she ? An official secret at the time, it beggars belief. But she could run with a top speed of 38.3 knots ! Hardly surprising when you consider she was equipped with the most powerful steam turbines ever fitted to a merchant vessel. Combined with her sleek lines, SS United States was simply unstoppable.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d9fed6481e5f.jpg[/atsimg]
The beautiful, sleek lines of SS United States

Sadly, as with her Cunard cousins, the times were against this ship and in 1969 she was withdrawn from service and laid up at Newport News. The following years were unkind, with her being moved to Norfolk, Virginia and then to Philadelphia. Many of her fittings were sold off in the 1980's and much of her interior spaces have been stripped bare. She's in a truly dreadful condition.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/82199e45c5ff.jpg[/atsimg]
SS United States tied up at Philadelphia

She's owned at the moment by Norwegian Cruise Lines, a subsidiary of Malaysian based Star Cruises. NCL had planned to restore SS United States and return her to passenger service. But the current financial climate has conspired against those plans and with costs now exceeding $800,000 per annum they're seeking to dispose of her. It's believed that tenders are being sought for breaking up this wonderful ship.

I think it's a tragedy for great ships to end up in this position. Only last year the SS France ended up on the beaches in Alang, India where she was mercilessly cut up. Can nothing be done to restore her to her former glory ? Are the people of the United States so disinterested in their own history that they would allow the current holder of the Blue Riband to be cut up ? Is their government so blinded by the shiny trinkets of new technology that they can overlook the employment and training possibilities present in this great ship, with immeasurable tourism benefits for that port lucky enough to be gifted SS United States after her restoration ?

I and many others would travel half a world to visit this ship, if only her owners, the various charitable organisations and the government could find a way to save this great ship. I'm not allowed to hook you up to the online petition to President Obama to save her, suffice to say it's out there if you wish to look hard enough. And there are charities which are looking out for the old girl, charities which deserve our support (and I say that as a European !).

So what you say, US contributors, can anything be done to save this ship of yours ?

Here's hoping something is done soon to prevent her sale to foreign shipbreakers.

I have a number of relatives (some directly related) that have served at sea, both as merchant mariners, and in the Royal Navy.

It is most sad to see a vessel such as this, rusting away and facing the breakers yard.

Many of these liners could be pressed into service in a variety of ways.

Sadly though, whilst money is the driving factor in this world, it is not likely that this beautiful vessel will be saved.

I for one have my fingers crossed though.

Just to add to my last post:

It should not matter which country produced this vessel, or where it ends up.

What should really matter is that this vessel is preserved. It's a technological marvel, that we should preserve it for future generations.

Perhaps one of our our greatest failures is that we get so "tribal" when it comes to achievements. Instead of celebrating the great works we do, we gloat about "so-and-so country produced it", and so on.... it's a pity really.

This is sad, to think this beautiful liner maybe scrapped is beyond comprehension. The Big U is without doubt one of the greatest mechanical achievments of the 20th century. The aeroplane equivalent is the Lockheed SR71 Blackbird and they are preserved and so should the SS United States be.

I read a while back that crew members who served on the Queen Elizabeth used to see her approaching, sail past and then disappear into the distance. That was how fast she was.

Dimensions: The SS United States is 990 feet long (5 city blocks), 101 feet wide, and 175 feet high (a 17 story building). The SS United States has the tallest funnels in the world, at 65 feet (a 6 story building). The ship is the largest liner ever to be designed and constructed in the United States. The SS United States is also the largest ship designed to pass through the Panama Canal, with only inches to spare.

Speed: The Big U was capable of attaining 44.7 knots, which equates to over 50 mph. Cruising speed was between 30 and 33 knots. The SS United States was the fastest ship afloat in her day, and is the fastest object of her size ever built. It is interesting to note that the SS United States was capable of traveling at 25 knots in reverse, roughly Titanic's forward top speed.

Propulsion: The ship was able to attain such a high rate of speed due to an unrivaled power-to-weight ratio. The SS United States was a quadruple screw vessel, powered by 4 Westinghouse steam turbines, rotating at 5240 rpm, which produced up to a combined 247,785 shaft horsepower (SHP). Today's nuclear powered aircraft carriers only produce slightly more power than this. Her oil-burning boilers could reach 1,200 degrees F, causing the turbines to spin faster than than any ship of her day. The Big U could steam for 10,000 miles without stopping to refuel. The SS United States was a mere 28 feet shorter than the Queen Mary, but due to the extensive usage of aluminum in her superstructure (2,000 tons) weighed only 53,290 tons, roughly 30,000 tons less than the Queen Mary. The SS United States was such a success that its hull and engine designs were placed in nearly all large naval battle ships, and the ship itself was the prototype for the first super aircraft carriers, the Forrestal class. On the Big U, the powerplant was slightly derated because boiler superheat temp was lowered from 1,000 degrees to about 925 in the interests of reliability/maintenance. The Carriers actually generated 5,000 to 10,000 SHP per shaft more than the Big U. The propulsion system was a closely guarded secret until the 1970s.

Facts And Figures

Wow! No wonder she was able to travel at express speeds.
SS United States was designed so she could be converted into a troopship in 48 hours. She never served as that purpose but was put on standby during the Cuban missile crisis.

reply to post by Gutman


I didn't know all those facts and figures !

It makes SS United States even more special and strengthens my resolve to make more people aware of her plight. If only she was in my homeport I could volunteer to help give her a lick of paint, if nothing else.

It's anathema to me that the Queen Mary can be preserved on the USA West Coast, yet a ship designed & constructed by Americans, for Americans can be allowed to tilt, ride & rust at anchor. It makes me mad that hundreds of billions of dollars, euros and pounds can be found at the drop of a hat to fund failing banks, yet this amazing piece of history is sadly overlooked.

Perhaps an enlightened philanthropist might come along to save the day, where government has failed. Maybe I've missed the boat too, for few here seem terribly interested in this ship either, judging from the minimal responses.

But thanks for those statistics !

I gave up on people when many years ago I read that the Yorktown, hero ship of WWII, had been sold for scrap and dismantled.

It could have been argued that the Yorktown single-handedly changed the course of the war in the Pacific.

If we could consciously scrap that ship, what chance does this one have?

It is sad really that we can forget and throw away our history so easily...

Semper

I don't believe Glenn Beck has seen this yet. I know he would put this on the TV and make every American cry... who knew we even had an SS United States.

They could have used it in the movie 2012 instead of having the John F. Kennedy land on the White House.

This is a great post. S+F if I can figure out how.

For the first time in my life I've emailed a politician !

I've just written to the man himself, President Obama. I told him a little about the ship, its history and her condition today. I suggested the ship would be a perfect use of stimulus money, to help create employment & skills in the Philadelphia area whilst restoring a great icon of US history at the same time.

I will let you see his reply, assuming the White House emails one back.

reply to post by Ulala


Thats how we make here in the north - we do, not just talk!!!

Great job!

Originally posted by JanusFIN
reply to post by Ulala

 

Thats how we make here in the north - we do, not just talk!!!

Great job!

No reply yet from the great man, guess he's too busy for plebs like me !

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/e6ce0f6f223d.jpg[/atsimg]
SS United States off New York

A few media majors have picked up on the news of impending doom ...

Preservationists have a sinking feeling that the owners of the S.S. United States -- the fastest ocean liner in the world -- are trying to sell it for scrap. The vessel's current owner, NCL Group, a unit of Genting Hong Kong, is collecting bids from scrap yards this month, according to the S.S. United States Conservancy, a nonprofit group trying to save the ship. The effort to preserve the historic ship was the subject of a Page One article in The Wall Street Journal in September. In a statement, an NCL spokeswoman said, "We continue to seek alternative arrangements with the intent of selling the vessel to a suitable buyer."

Scrapping would be an ignominious end for a vessel that once traversed the Atlantic carrying British royalty, Hollywood big shots and three orchestras on board. The ship -- so fast, its top speed was a Cold War state secret -- still holds the record for the fastest westbound crossing of the Atlantic, nearly 60 years after setting it.

Wall St Journal

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/0540601d183b.jpg[/atsimg]
Coming home with the Blue Riband, 1952

At the very heart of the Canyon of Heroes, on Broadway between Wall and Pine streets, a black granite strip embedded in the sidewalk commemorates a once-famous New York tickertape parade. The marker describes what was then, and remains today, a monumental maritime achievement: the shattering of the Queen Mary's standing transatlantic speed record by America's great national flagship, the SS United States. The speeds she achieved on that maiden voyage in 1952 have never been equaled by a passenger ship, and SS United States' captain, engineer and crew were rightly honored by thousands of New Yorkers -- proud Americans who came out to celebrate our country's indisputable leadership on the high seas. In many ways, we live in a different country now. Ocean liners have all but ceased to exist, and few Information Age citizens would rally to celebrate such an Industrial Era achievement. Times change; the country changes -- inevitably. But that's why we have those markers along Broadway: They help us remember our past accomplishments and, therefore, shed light on who we are today. Yet we still need to see the actual implements of our greatness -- hence museums, displays and private collections. But we may soon lose one of our great 20th century artifacts, because that great ship -- a symbol of the American Century -- will be bought by scrappers and destroyed.

New York Post



What a great ship, she deserves so much better.
Still patiently waiting for that email reply from the President ... Barack, you know where to get me

reply to post by Ulala


My guess is you will be waiting for some time for that response.

However your thread here is a testament to what has made this country great in the past. (And other countries as well)

I frequently harken back to a time when "Men wore hats" and there was respect in the world and people rose to a challenge and were unashamedly proud of accomplishments. Perhaps I was just born in the wrong era.

I think I will go and write an email as well.



Semper

Back in the 70's when I was a youngster Dad showed us some films he had taken on a cine camera back in the 60's. There was brief footage of the SS United States setting sail from Southampton. He said they were on holiday/vacation in the area and he read in the newspaper she was leaving so he drove over and filmed her.
Dad says that the United States had just broken the record, that is why it was in the paper. I told him she broke the record in 1952 not 1962. He countered that by saying that she might have broke the record again. I thought about this and wondered if The Big U did actually make faster crossings than the official time. With so much secrecey at the time we will probably never know.

On another note Mom had her photo taken with the Queen Mary in the background. It was in the late 40's and she was still in her wartime colours.

More news articles for your perusal ... little positive, I'm afraid.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/331b73b1d48f.jpeg[/atsimg]
Philadelphia, 2009

The SS United States is the fastest, sleekest ocean liner ever built, a giant gem of midcentury design and engineering, and in the brief time it spent on the high seas before the great liners were finally supplanted by jet flight, it truly became what its admirers now call it: "America's flagship." In its glory days it seemed hard to believe it would ever end like this: Moored permanently in a berth on the Philadelphia side of the Delaware River, cold and empty. That's where it's been for a long 14 years while a succession of owners have tried to figure out what to do with it. There's been talk of turning it into a casino, or a luxury dockside hotel; there's been talk of refitting it and sending it back out on the seas. But the clock is running down, and now it looks like the end may be approaching: The current owners, Genting Hong Kong, have begun to seriously solicit bids from scrappers. The SS United States Conservancy has mounted a last-ditch effort to raise public awareness about the dire straits in which this beautiful ship now finds itself. Take a look at the trailer for "SS United States: Lady In Waiting," a documentary produced by SSUSC board member Mark Perry, and if you're moved to help, contact the Conservancy.

BoingBoing - America's flagship head for the scrapyard ?

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/c5607fe2a588.jpeg[/atsimg]
Twin funnels, tied up at Philadelphia

The SS United States Conservancy says the SS United States, may soon be scrapped. It says the ship's current owners, Genting Hong Kong through its subsidiary, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), are currently collecting bids from scrappers. The SS United States was listed for sale in February, 2009. While NCL offered the Conservancy first right of refusal on the vessel's sale, the Conservancy says it has not been in a financial position to purchase the ship outright. However, the Conservancy has been working diligently to lay the groundwork for a public-private partnership to save and sustain the transatlantic liner for generations to come. The Conservancy understands that Genting and NCL are reluctant to continue covering the significant costs associated with maintaining the vessel in its current berth in Philadelphia. It adds that it appreciates the good care the vessel has received since its purchase in 2003 with the stated intention of returning the ship to seagoing service. The Conservancy has begun discussions with NCL with the intent of covering some of the fees associated with maintaining the ship in Philadelphia so it can finalize plans for repurposing the ship as a stationary attraction at a large metropolitan waterfront. The Conservancy has launched a new "Save Our Ship" (SOS) national campaign.

Marine Log

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/ce7b9283ebd4.jpeg[/atsimg]
Once she's gone, she's gone forever

No reply received from the White House, naive fool I am to have expected otherwise I guess. And few here seem too interested either, perhaps this is an incorrect venue for this thread or, more likely, I've misjudged the mood.

I wonder if Americans have a sense of history in the same way their European friends do ? I visited Florida a few years ago and did the tourist trip to Cape Canaveral. So many of us were amazed ... shocked even ... to see the condition of the launchpad from which men were (allegedly !) launched to the moon. One of the most important places on earth, rubbish and junk everywhere, the place looked little touched since the 1970's. So sad to see.

Ho well. I'm going to keep this thread going with an occasional post, it's therapeutic for me, I don't know what upsets me more, to see American history just thrown away or the fact so few Americans seem to care

More depressing news stories unfortunately.

The word is that NCL need to sell SS United States by the end of March for taxation purposes. They're promising to sell her to a US concern although, really, that doesn't count for much in the great scheme of things.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/134f1605cada.jpg[/atsimg]
SS United States (background) passess SS America (foreground)

Kent German has an interesting blog on CNET about this iconic ship.

Ten years ago during a visit to Philadelphia, I passed a large ship docked at a pier on the Delaware River. The ship looked like an ocean liner and though I sped by in a car, I noticed the faded name "United States" on the bow. I wondered, could it be the same revolutionary passenger liner that still holds an Atlantic speed record a half a century after its speedy voyage? As it turns out, it was.

CNET - Speedy ship now up for scrap

But hey, what's this ?

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/5d7505b25265.jpg[/atsimg]
SS Rotterdam returning in triumph, following her restoration

Hey, it's a North Atlantic ocean liner, as iconic for its own nation as the SS United States, constructed in the 1950's and pulled out of service in ... 1969 ... anyone see a pattern here ? Unfortunately that's where the similarities end.

For this ship is SS Rotterdam, the last Dutch liner, launched by HM Queen Juliana in 1958 & now saved for the Netherlands. The ship has been restored and serves as a museum and hotel in the port which shares her name. So proud were the Dutch that in February 2010 they wheeled out HM Queen Beatrix to perform the opening ceremony (Mr. Obama ... take note).

God bless SS Rotterdam but she's no stunner, nor does she have the technical prowess of her US cousin. So why have the Dutch managed to save this ship for their nation yet the USA can't come together to save SS United States ? It's so weird, so inexplicable. Does everything come at a price in USA-land nowadays ?

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/e7b40f4d8b20.jpg[/atsimg]
Once she's gone, she's gone forever, your loss ... and mine

End of March, folks, end of March ... that when the deadline runs out.

Some grounds for some cautious optimism ...

March 16, 2009 – The Conservancy has learned that while the ship has officially been listed with a broker, her current owners say she’s not to be sold to non-U.S. entities or scrappers. Read on…
The current owner of the SS UNITED STATES has informed the SS United States Conservancy that important conditions have been imposed on the terms of the ship’s sale. Star Cruises, parent company of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), has disclosed that the ship will only be sold to a U.S. buyer and will not be sold for scrap. The vessel has now officially been listed with the Florida-based ship brokerage, Southport Atlantic (contact [email protected]) with these terms of sale in place. SS United States Conservancy board member Greg Norris met today with Southport Atlantic principals to discuss the Conservancy’s interest in ensuring a dignified future for our national flagship.

SS United States Conservancy - Breaking News