This week we were informed, the S/S United States, which has been laid-up in Philadelphia for the past few years, may be up for sale.
The ship, which has been stripped of all of her interior public rooms and cabins, last sailed in 1969 and has spent the last 40 years in the backwaters of Virginia and Philadelphia. Between lay-ups in these two ports, she was towed to Turkey for the removal of asbestos and all internal fittings.
Originally NCL had purchased her with hopes of sailing her again, either in the Hawaiian trade or domestically. There were even rumours that Cunard Line may charter the ship to run along side the QE2 on transatlantic voyages - but all these ventures were not to be. With the latest downturn in the economy, use of the ship in the US domestic trade seems unlikely.
It appears that the only buyers able to obtain suitable funding for the ship may be scrappers. In this bad economy, many ship owners are jumping on scrapyard offers. This is more economical than keeping a ship in lay-up with no immediate opportunity for employment.
There are efforts by the ss United States.org to save the ship. Potential plans include using the ship as a floating hotel, maritime museum, conference center or various other uses. For more information on how you can help save the S/S United States please visit: http://www.ssunitedstates.org/
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