SS United States

Pictures of her in lay up here - Photographic Allsorts: S.S. United States

 

They dont seem to care much about their ships heritage do they?

 

Yes the American's appear quite pro-active ship preservationists to a point, they have some that the UK should have but in the main, they prefer Navy ships (No surprises there I guess?).
Since the SS Rotterdam apparently is struggling to meet financial expectations, I doubt anyone other than Bill Gates or Donald Trump would plough the $$$Millions into this ship to secure her for the future, which I have to say, I am surprised by. I did think that being as patriotic as they are, you would think a ship with that name in that country would do well!

 

Especially if she'd been berthed alongside one of the piers on the Hudson. She is, after all, the last conventional ship to hold the blue ribband too!

 

The only problem with preservation stateside is the finances... Preservation here only tends to happen on a commercial scale or a very local level.
small scale preservation finances will not save this ship or any other whether in the UK or the US.
large scale corporate finance for a ship is a bit thin on the ground right now... It would need to be the right place and right package...moored on The Hudson I doubt will cut it .. To few local patronage to make the multi millions a commercial venture will require.

If it were hyde st pier in San Francisco.. Or the harbour side in San Diego.... Maybe, but where is the pacific connection ?
Maybe Bostons old docks would be a good home and set the ship up as a restaurant, bar, museum and hotel ?.. Now who has a half billion dollars to finance it ? (as that's the kind of cash it needs in the US.)?. Perhaps if Boston ran for the 2020 Olympics and Marriott hotels took it on ala St Pancras ?

 

Found this, looks well gutted inside. Asbestos removal I believe.
SS United States

 

Yep you are correct. Whilst I'm not a fan of wiki as a research resourse, the following appears to have an interesting list of current hopes/dreams/plans/aspirations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_United_States

It's easy for people to pour scorn on these, but who knows, maybe one day? Time will tell, but with her asbestos gone, scrapping is not out of the question I guess.

 

SS United States Conservancy | SS United States Redevelopment Project
This is about as up todate as you can get. it would be good to see a tradional liner come to life again.In this country we are pretty rubbish when it comes to preserving ships and those we try to are a real struggle.

 

Under threat, yet again........
https://www.inquirer.com/news/phila...penn-warehousing-20230131.html?outputType=amp

 

I believe that, sometime after it achieved the "Blue Riband" for the fastest Atlantic crossing, it was said that it could have crossed even faster but that would have disclosed its, then secret, top speed!

 

a more up-to-date report and some photos
https://www.abandonedamerica.us/ss-united-states

 

God knows where or how the money would be raised to restore some of her interiors to something like they were in service. Apart from the machinery spaces, she is an empty shell, free from asbestos (now). I fear scrapping is the only option?

Love the way the 'author' describes her as the 'last of her kind'....err...HELLO...what's that big black and white ship with three funnels over in Southern California?!

 

Understandable. It was stripped bare many years ago to pay debts and for asbestos removal. It's a shame, but it's a gutted shell that has been out of use for 55 years - its service life was only 17 years.

 

According to BBC:- On her final voyage to Alabama to become another artificial reef. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cx2gkxwpgggo

 

Like a scene from 'Raise the Titanic'… is Michael Caine in the wheelhouse?

Simon