United States docked in Philadelphia, February 2009 |
|
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Name: | SS United States |
| Operator: | United States Lines |
| Port of registry: | New York City |
| Ordered: | 1950 |
| Builder: | Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company |
| Cost: | $78 million |
| Laid down: | 8 February 1950 |
| Launched: | 1952 |
| Christened: | 1952 |
| Maiden voyage: | 3 July 1952 |
| Out of service: | 1969 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 5373476, Callsign |
| Fate: | Sold in 1978 |
| Career | |
| Owner: | Various |
| Acquired: | 1978 |
| Fate: | Laid up in Philadelphia in 1996.[1] |
| Notes: | The United States changed hands multiple times from 1978 - 1996 for a return to active sea service but no plans came through.[2] |
| Career | |
| Owner: | SS United States Conservancy |
| Acquired: | February 1, 2011 |
| Fate: | Laid up in Philadelphia, bought to be preserved as of February 2011.[3] |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 53,330 gt |
| Displacement: | 41 ft 6 in (12.65 m)47,300 tons (at maximum draft) |
| Length: | 990 ft (300 m) |
| Beam: | 101 ft (31 m) |
| Draft: | 31 ft (9.4 m) |
| Decks: | 12 |
| Installed power: | 248,000 shp (185,000 kW) |
| Propulsion: | 4 × Westinghouse double-reduction geared steam turbines 8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers 4 × shafts |
| Speed: | 32 kn (37 mph; 59 km/h) (service) 38 kn (44 mph; 70 km/h) (maximum) |
| Capacity: | 1,928 passengers |
| Crew: | 900 |
| Nickname: | "The Big U"[4] |
|
SS United States (Steamship)
|
|
|
|
|
| Location: | Pier 82, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Architect: | William Francis Gibbs |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: | 99000609[5] |
| Added to NRHP: | 3 June 1999 |
SS United States is a luxury passenger liner built in 1952 for the United States Lines designed to capture the trans-Atlantic speed record.
Built at a cost of $78 million,[6] the ship is the largest ocean liner constructed entirely in the U.S., the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction, and even in her retirement retains the Blue Riband given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest speed.
Her construction was partially subsidized by the U.S. government, since she was designed to allow conversion to a troop carrier should the need have arisen.[6] United States operated uninterrupted in transatlantic passenger service until 1969; since 1996 she has been docked at Pier 82 on the Delaware River in Philadelphia.
Contents |
Inspired by the exemplary service of the British liners RMS Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, which transported hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops to Europe during the Second World War, the federal government of the United States decided to sponsor construction of a large and very fast vessel that would be capable of transporting large numbers of soldiers. Designed by renowned American naval architect and marine engineer William Francis Gibbs, the liner's construction was a joint effort between the United States Navy and United States Lines. The U.S. government underwrote $50 million of the $78 million construction cost, with the ship's operators—United States Lines—contributing the remaining $28 million. In exchange, the ship was designed to be easily converted in times of war to a troopship with a capacity of 15,000 troops, or a hospital ship.[7]
The vessel was constructed from 1950–1952 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Newport News, Virginia. The keel was laid and the hull was constructed in a graving dock. United States was built to exacting Navy specifications, which required that the ship be heavily compartmentalized and have separate engine rooms to optimize war-time survival.[8]
To minimize the risk of fire, the designers of United States used no wood in the ship's framing, accessories, decorations or interior surfaces. Fittings, including all furniture and fabrics, were custom made in glass, metal and spun glass fiber to ensure compliance with fireproofing guidelines set by the U.S. Navy. Specially commissioned artwork included pieces by fourteen artists, including Gwen Lux. Though the galley did feature a butcher block, the clothes hangers in the luxury cabins were aluminum. The ballroom's grand piano was of a rare, fire-resistant wood species—though originally specified in aluminum—and accepted only after a demonstration in which gasoline was poured upon the wood and ignited, without the wood itself igniting.[9]
The construction of the ship's superstructure involved the largest use of aluminum in any construction project to that time, and presented a challenge to the builders in joining the aluminum structure to the steel decks below. The significant use of aluminum provided extreme weight savings. At 105 ft (32 m) abeam, United States was built to Panamax capacity, ensuring that the ship could clear the Panama Canal locks with just 2 ft (0.6 m) to spare on either side.[10]
United States had the most powerful steam turbine in a merchant marine vessel. The ship was capable of steaming astern at over 20 kn (23 mph; 37 km/h), and could carry enough fuel and stores to steam non-stop for over 10,000 nmi (12,000 mi; 19,000 km).[11]
Captains of United States included Harry Manning, Roy Edward Fiddler, John Anderson and Leroy J. Alexanderson.
On her maiden voyage on 4 July 1952, United States broke the transatlantic speed record held by Queen Mary for the previous 14 years by over 10 hours, making the maiden crossing from the Ambrose lightship at New York Harbor to Bishop Rock off Cornwall, UK in three days, 10 hours, 40 minutes at an average speed of 35.59 kn (40.96 mph; 65.91 km/h) The liner also broke the westbound crossing record by returning to America in three days 12 hours and 12 minutes at an average speed of 34.51 kn (39.71 mph; 63.91 km/h), thereby obtaining both the eastbound and westbound speed records and the Blue Riband—the first time a U.S. flagged ship had held the speed record since the SS Baltic claimed the prize 100 years earlier.
United States maintained a 30 kn (35 mph; 56 km/h) crossing speed on the North Atlantic in a service career that lasted 17 years.
United States lost the eastbound speed record in 1990; however, she continues to hold the Blue Riband as all subsequent record breakers were neither in passenger service nor were their voyages westbound.[12]
The maximum speed of United States was deliberately exaggerated, and kept obscure for many years. An impossible value of 43 kn (49 mph; 80 km/h) was leaked to reporters by engineers after the first speed trial.[13] Her actual top speed—38.3 kn (44.1 mph; 70.9 km/h)—was not revealed until 1977. A Philadelphia Inquirer article reported the top speed achieved as 36 kn (41 mph; 67 km/h)[14] while another source reports that the highest possible sustained top speed was 35 kn (40 mph; 65 km/h).[15]
By the late 1960's, the market for Transatlantic travel by ship had dwindled. The Queen Mary had been retired in 1967 and the Queen Elizabeth in 1968. The United States was no longer profitable. While United States was at Newport News for annual overhaul in 1969, the shipping line decided to withdraw the ship from service, docking the ship there. After a few years, the ship was relocated to Norfolk, Virginia. Subsequently, ownership passed between several companies. In 1978, the vessel was sold to private interests who hoped to revitalize the liner in a time share cruise ship format. Financing fell through and the ship was placed up for auction by MARAD. In 1979, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) was reportedly interested in purchasing the ship and converting it into a cruise ship for the Caribbean, but decided on purchasing the former SS France instead. During the 1980s, United States was considered by the U.S. Navy as a troop ship or a hospital ship, to be called the USS United States, but this plan never materialized.
In 1984, the ship's remaining fittings and furniture were sold at auction in Norfolk. Some of the furniture now represents a substantial portion of the interior of Windmill Point, a restaurant in Nags Head, North Carolina.[16] These items include dining room tables and chairs in the main restaurant and the bar and lounge tables and chairs in the upstairs lounge as well as other items. One of the ship's propellers is mounted at the entrance to the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City. Another propeller is mounted on a platform near the waterfront at SUNY Maritime College at Fort Schuyler, NY. Across the Long Island Sound from SUNY Maritime College, another propeller is mounted at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and is used as a teaching aid for future merchant mariners. Another propeller is mounted at the entrance of the Newport News Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia. In 1992, a new consortium of owners purchased the vessel and had the vessel towed to Turkey and then Ukraine, where she underwent asbestos removal in 1994. The interior of the ship was almost completely stripped during this time. No viable agreements were reached in the U.S. for a reworking of the vessel, and in 1996 United States was towed to her current location at Pier 84 in South Philadelphia. The ship is easily visible from shore and Interstate 95, directly across Columbus Boulevard from the Philadelphia IKEA store.
While United States lost the eastbound transatlantic speed record in 1990 to Hoverspeed Great Britain, an Incat-built Norwegian-owned wave-piercing catamaran ferry, she still holds the Blue Riband for the westbound transatlantic speed record.[6]
In 1999, the SS United States Foundation and the SS United States Conservancy (then known as the SS United States Preservation Society, Inc.) succeeded in having the ship placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Models of the United States have made appearances in two major films, 2012 and The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep. The United States herself appears in the 1962 Disney film "Bon Voyage" and Baby Mama. A birds eye view of United States is shown during the opening scene of the movie, "West Side Story."
In 2003, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) purchased the ship from the estate of Edward Cantor when the ship was put up for auction after his death, with the stated intent of fully restoring the ship to a service role in their newly-announced American-flagged Hawaiian passenger service called NCL America.[17] The SS United States is one of only a handful of ships eligible to enter such service because of the Jones Act, which requires that any vessel engaged in domestic commerce be built and flagged in the U.S. and operated by a predominantly American crew. In August 2004, NCL commenced feasibility studies regarding a new build-out of the vessel, and in May, 2006 Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, chairman of Malaysia-based Star Cruises (which owns NCL), stated that the company's next project is "the restoration of the...United States."[18] By May 2007, an extensive technical review had been completed, with NCL stating that the ship was in sound condition. The cruise line has over 100 boxes of the ship's blueprints cataloged. While this documentation is not complete, NCL believes it will provide useful information for the planned refit.[19] However, when NCL America began operation, it used Pride of America, Pride of Aloha, and Pride of Hawaii, rather than United States, and later withdrew Pride of Aloha and Pride of Hawaii from Hawaiian service.
In February 2009, it was reported that Star Cruises, to whom United States' ownership was transferred, and NCL were looking for buyers for the liner.[20][21]
A group of the ship's fans keeps in touch via the Internet and meets annually in Philadelphia. The ship receives occasional press coverage, such as a 2007 feature article in USA Today and there have been various projects through the years to celebrate the ship, such as lighting it on special occasions.[22] A television documentary about the ship, titled SS United States: Lady in Waiting, was completed in early February, 2008 and was distributed through Chicago's WTTW TV and American Public Television with the first airings in May, 2008 on PBS stations throughout the U.S..[23] The Big U: The Story of the SS United States, another documentary about the ship, is currently in development by Rock Creek Productions.[24]
It was reported in March 2010 that scrapping bids for the ship were being collected. Norwegian Cruise Lines, in a press release, noted that there are large costs associated with keeping United States afloat in her current state—around $800,000 a year—and that, as the SS United States Conservancy has not been able to tender an offer for the ship, the company was actively seeking a "suitable buyer."[25]
Ever since 2009, when Norwegian Cruise Line offered up the ship for sale, there have been numerous plans to rescue the liner from the scrap yard. The SS United States Conservancy—a group trying to save United States has been trying to come up with funding to purchase the ship.[26] On July 30, 2009, H. F. Lenfest, a Philadelphia media entrepreneur and philanthropist, pledged a matching grant of $300,000 to help the United States Conservancy purchase the vessel from Star Cruises.[27] A notable supporter—former U.S. president Bill Clinton—has also endorsed rescue efforts to save the ship having sailed on her himself in 1968.[28][29]
By May 7, 2010, over $50,000 had been raised by The SS United States Conservancy [30] and on July 1, 2010, the Conservancy struck a deal with Norwegian Cruise Line to buy SS United States from them for a reported $3 million dollars, despite a scrapper's bid for $5.9 million. The Conservancy has until February 2011 to buy the ship and satisfy Environmental Protection Agency concerns related to toxins on the ship. They then have 20 months of financial support to develop a plan to clean the ship of toxins and make the ship financially self-supporting, possibly as a hotel or development.[3][31] SS United States Conservancy executive director Dan McSweeney has stated that likely locations for the ship include Philadelphia, New York and Miami.[3][32]
In November 2010, the Conservancy announced a plan to develop a "multi-purpose waterfront complex" with hotels, restaurants and a casino along the Delaware River in South Philadelphia at the proposed location for the stalled Foxwoods Casino project. A detailed study for the site was revealed in late November 2010, in advance of Pennsylvania's 10 December 2010 deadline for a deal aimed at Harrah's Entertainment taking over the casino project.[33] On December 16, 2010, the Gaming Control Board voted to revoke the casino's license.[34]
The SS United States Conservancy assumed ownership of SS United States on February 1[35][36]. In March talks about possible locations in Philadelphia, New York and Miami continued. In New York City, negotiations with a developer are underway for the ship to become part of the Vision 2020[37], a waterfront redevelopment plan totaling $3.3 billion USD. In Miami, Ocean Group in Coral Gables was interested in putting the ship in a slip on the north side of American Airlines Arena[38]. With an additional $5.8 million USD donation from H. F. Lenfest the conservancy has 18 months as of March 2011.[39]
On August 5, 2011 it was announced by the SS United States Conservancy that after conducting two studies focused on placing the ship in Philadelphia it was "not likely to work there for a variety of reasons". It was also stated that the redevelopment and possible refit must be done in the Philadelphia Navy Yard with a large amount of the budget involved going into the Philadelphia economy. Discussions with having the ship placed in New York as a stationary attraction continue to be ongoing and looking good according to the conservancy.[40]
| External images | |
|---|---|
| The Liner "United States" Passing 42nd Street, New York (c. 1952) by Andreas Feininger, Metropolitan Museum of Art | |
| Records | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Queen Mary |
Holder of the Blue Riband (westbound) 1952–present |
Incumbent |
| Atlantic Eastbound Record 1952–1990 |
Succeeded by Hoverspeed Great Britain |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||