Owners of SS United States in Race Against Time to
Raise $500,000, Relocate Historic
Vessel that Bears the Name of Our Nation
PHILADELPHIA, June 20,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- An irreplaceable historic
symbol could soon be homeless and face destruction. The SS
United States, the only
vessel to bear the name of our nation, is in an intense race
against time to remain safely afloat. The ship's owner and
caretaker, the national nonprofit SS United States Conservancy, has
launched an urgent effort to raise $500,000 to help cover the costs of the ship's
potential relocation and other critical expenses.
After a lengthy legal dispute, the US District Court in
Philadelphia ruled Friday that the
ship must vacate the berth at Pier 82 it has occupied for decades
by September 12, 2024. In her ruling,
Senior Judge Anita Brody determined
the SS United States'
landlord, Penn Warehousing, could not double dockage fees without
notice as it did in its effort to force the ship from her pier.
While a partial victory for the nonprofit organization, which has
continued to pay rent throughout the dispute, the court order
established a 90-day deadline to move the nearly 1000-foot-long
ship to a new home.
A unique engineering marvel and symbol of the nation, the SS
United States is the
fastest liner ever to cross the Atlantic Ocean and an enduring
expression of American mid-century technological innovation.
Now she faces twin threats to her survival. "The lawsuit and
subsequent court ruling give us a very limited window to secure a
new home for the ship and raise the resources for moving costs and
ongoing expenses. We must do both to avoid the tragic fate that
countless supporters from around the world have worked for over a
decade to prevent," said Conservancy President Susan Gibbs, the granddaughter of the ship's
famed designer, William Francis
Gibbs.
"Our goal with this campaign is to save this great symbol
of American pride and innovation. We have very little time,
and we face many challenges, but we draw energy and inspiration
from the SS United States' own resilience and enduring ability
to bring people together," said Gibbs.
The SS United States has
faced imminent danger before, but supporters from across the
country and around the world have always stepped up to save her
from destruction.
All contributions to the organization's urgent campaign are tax
deductible to the extent allowed by law. Those interested in
contributing can visit www.SavetheUnitedStates.org.
"Our search for a new temporary or permanent location has been
ongoing and began well before the litigation, but if a dock cannot
be found in the coming weeks, we'll be forced to commit to reefing
or scrapping the vessel," stated Warren
Jones, a member of the Conservancy's board and a former SS
United States
passenger.
Proceeds from the fundraising campaign will be prioritized
toward moving the vessel, should a suitable pier become available
within the court-imposed timeline. Relocating a ship the size of
the SS United States is
complex. It requires funds for insurance, tugs, surveys, and dock
preparations to ensure the ship's safe passage to a new home. The
Conservancy has been actively exploring potential pier locations in
the Philadelphia area and along
the East Coast able to accommodate the liner. The nonprofit
organization has also been engaging in targeted outreach to federal
and state officials including President Biden, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, the U.S. Navy, regional port
authorities, and others who could help with that effort.
"The time for action is now. Saving the United States should be a cause that
unifies us during this time of division. Imagine how the images of
America's Flagship being towed away for scrap would be viewed by
Americans and the global community. It would be a tragic metaphor
to lose the nation's flagship," Jones added. "Now is the time for
our leaders to engage with us to prevent this symbol of the nation
from being destroyed."
Since acquiring the SS United
States in 2011, the Conservancy has achieved dramatic
success in raising public awareness about the ship and building a
global community of supporters. In 2023, together with RXR and MCR
Hotels, they unveiled a full redevelopment plan demonstrating the
ship's commercial viability as a privately funded, mixed use
destination. Renderings can be found HERE. These turnkey plans can
be adapted to any suitable port city, but the project cannot
advance until the ship secures a new home.
Since its inception, the Conservancy has also continued to
advance public education about the SS United States through temporary
exhibitions, events, and the care and stewardship of a major museum
collection of original furniture, artwork, ephemera, archival
documentation, and historic components from the ship.
"As we approach our nation's 250th birthday, the loss of this
American masterpiece would be tragic. A unique historic achievement
that bears the name of our great nation should not be at grave risk
of destruction. While we have never been closer to losing America's
Flagship, we have great faith that our global community of
supporters will help us meet this latest challenge," Gibbs
added.
Learn more about the SS United States Conservancy at
www.ssusc.org.
Contact
Bob Driscoll
1-716-307-7406
379413@email4pr.com
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SOURCE SS United States Conservancy