SS United States Changes hands again!

[Klinger]

http://www.wfmj.com/Global/story.asp?S=13941915

Today, the SS United States Conservancy announced that its plan for toxic materials has been approved by the EPA, and plans will go ahead to acquire the ships title and begin their attempt the revive the nearly 60 year old ship, out of service since 1969.

If you have not already, I highly suggest that you join the Plank Owners program, by donating at least $25 towards the preservation of this irreplaceable American Icon. This ship has held the North Atlantic speed record for 60 years as of next July

 

[sawyer811]

What's their plans for her? Static Display ship, tour ship, what? She is a great american icon...the fact she even lived this long is very Mohawk the Wouldn't Quit-ish (minus the horrific ending) I'd love to see her break her old record....

Oh well, perhaps another day.

 

[Klinger]

Think of the Queen Mary in LA and the Rotterdam in Rotterdam. Static hotel ships, with restaurants, retail outlets, movie theaters, museums, that sort of thing.

These ships are far too old to sail again, the engines are outdated, they can't meet modern safety standards (although this is NOT true of the SS United States)

So yea, Static, saving old ships is not like saving old locomotives. The cost is about 100x higher, and in order to sail old ships, you have lots of standards to meet, and its not always practical

 

[n8phu]

I remember her being tied up In Norfolk VA, behind the USN Fire Fighting school (I think I just dated myself).... During breaks I would exhale all the smoke I had eaten and look at her.... I think I still have some pics around here of her...

 

[RRSignal]

-post deleted

 

[crman123]

I've noticed through researching on ocean liners (NOT cruise ships) that they tend to have MUCH, MUCH shorter useful life spans than compared to cars and especially trains. I'm going to assume (being a "landlubber") that the salt water and endless variety of weather and water temperature fatigue and stress the steel in the hull more so than the steel in, say, an old steam locomotive.

Though I think it's interesting that the MS Stockholm is still sailing. I think it's called the MS Athens now...or something like that.

 

[sawyer811]

Well, that makes sense that she wouldn't steam again, but i just thought i'd ask. I know of a group that's trying (or at least was trying) to get an old Navy Icebreaker steaming again as a supply ship to the northern cities in Alaska and whatnot. Interesting thing is it was a group of all the old sailors who had manned her in her Navy years (i think she did a stint as a USCG Icebreaker for a while, she had a red hull with the stripe on the side).

In any case, It's good that she at least has a future. Too bad she can't once again be "the Last of the Greyhounds."

Sail on Sailor!!

I've noticed through researching on ocean liners (NOT cruise ships) that they tend to have MUCH, MUCH shorter useful life spans than compared to cars and especially trains. I'm going to assume (being a "landlubber") that the salt water and endless variety of weather and water temperature fatigue and stress the steel in the hull more so than the steel in, say, an old steam locomotive.

Though I think it's interesting that the MS Stockholm is still sailing. I think it's called the MS Athens now...or something like that.

Isn't the Stockholm the ship that tore the side out of the Andrea Doria??

 

[Euphod]

I remember her being tied up In Norfolk VA, behind the USN Fire Fighting school (I think I just dated myself).... During breaks I would exhale all the smoke I had eaten and look at her.... I think I still have some pics around here of her...

I did a tour at Sewell's Point myself.

Where in Philadelphia is she tied, I tried to find her in Google Earth, but was unable. I visited the USS New Jersey this past August in Camden, thought she might be around Penn's Landing, but not.

 

[Klinger]

Yes, the Stockholm that sunk the Andria Doria is still around, and still sailing.

Only the Hull is original though, the ship has been heavily rebuilt, but she still has her majestic curved (called sheer) hull.

Obviously the bow is a replacement....

I believe she is docked at pier 89, there is an IKEA near her

 

[TaggartTC]

I did a tour at Sewell's Point myself.

Where in Philadelphia is she tied, I tried to find her in Google Earth, but was unable.

If you're still looking, she's about 0.86 miles north of the Walt Whitman Bridge, on the Philly side.

 

[steamboateng]

Yikes! Is that old hulk still around!!!
Saw her many years ago, here and there, paint peeling; almost unrecognisable. Heard time and again thru the waterfront scuttlebutt she was going to be saved by one company or another, but nothing ever came of it. It seemed everyone dumped her once they got wind of the $$ involved in making her an environmental pin-up girl! Thought she went to the Indian scrapyards rears ago.
As a retired marine engineer I have followed her woefull demise with interest for many years. Thought she was a gonner long ago.
When I signed my firt Articles in 1966, she was still the master (errrr-Misses) of the Atlantic. She had the same engines as the carriier 'Forrestall' I believe. There was awaiting line to get a job on her.............
The demise of the US Merchant Marine..............perhaps she was telling us something....

 

[HSSRAIL]

January 8, 2011

The problem that a lot of these old ships have for cruising is that there ratio of hull to superstructure is higher. Modern Cruise ships have most of their accomodations in the superstructure not the hull.

The static exhibit of ships may not work for the SS United States. When the Queen Mary was put on static display it was done shortly after Cunard retired the ship and required relatively little work to get it operating as a static exhibit.

The SS United States has been completely gutted. I think it will take $100s of millions of dollars just to furnish the ship so you could use it as a hotel and convention center. The ships capital needs are so high I don't see how the money can be raised entirely in the United States. The ship is capable of crossing the Atlantic Ocean in two days with a trend in cruising towards spending more times in ports of call her speed might be useful. I tend to think that the SS United States should be restored as an Atlantic Liner and the foundation should seek funds from abroad to help restore the ship.

The foundation needs all the help they can get this is a very large project.

There success is not guaranteed they need all the help they can get.

Howard

 

[steamboateng]

The 'United States' is a steamship. In her prime she was an engineering success. But that was back when oil was $10-$12 a barrel. All modern cruise ships are diesels now. Fuel cost is 1/3 that of a steamship. Maintenance costs are half again. Even the QE2 got reffitted for diesel.....
I'm afraid you'll see no steamship in commercial service ever again.........

:'( (pardon me!)

 

[Euphod]

The 'United States' is a steamship. In her prime she was an engineering success. But that was back when oil was $10-$12 a barrel. All modern cruise ships are diesels now. Fuel cost is 1/3 that of a steamship. Maintenance costs are half again. Even the QE2 got reffitted for diesel.....
I'm afraid you'll see no steamship in commercial service ever again.........

:'( (pardon me!)

Quite right, we'll be back to sailing the way this country is headed!

 

[steamboateng]

:'( Pardon me.

 

[Klinger]

Yes, but the interior's had to come out, they were packed with asbestos. Its not impossible , just unlikely. But that does not mean we should not support the effort!!!

She is the last great American Ocean Liner left in the world. After here there will be nothing left. She is a symbol that should be preserved

By the way, New York seems to be the prime city, they are very interested in the ship, and developers have also been very interested in the space from what I have been told. So things may not be as bad as they seem.

 

[jmeinig]

I'm afraid you'll see no steamship in commercial service ever again.........

Actually, the SS Badger is still making crossings of Lake Michigan and she is a refitted car ferry from the C&O Railway. Still has her original coal-fired steam engines and still dumps ash into the lake.

 

[steamboateng]

Well actually there are about a half dozen still saiing deep sea under US Flag; and I walked the decks of 3/4 of 'em; including a coal burner. But they're the last of their kin. You want a steamboat...........go nuclear!