Bummed as hell about the SS United States. Was very hopeful when the cruise line bought it. Then again when the Foundation was formed. But I can understand; there was practically nothing left inside. :-(
As a Great Lakes boatnerd who toured 3 different car ferries (2 retired) and one retired freighter this summer, this saddens me horribly as well. I think of all the effort these historical groups have put into rehabbing these pieces of maritime history and it makes me sick that the United States is going to just be sunk. I mean, sure, it's a more "dignified" end than scrapping, but still... my father-in-law might have sailed on her when he went to & from Europe during WWII. Just tragic.
I live in the Delaware Valley and seeing that ship as I drive over the Walt Whitman Bridge into Philly has been a part of my almost ever since I moved to the area. I too am saddened by its fate, which seems rather ignominious, given its storied past.
I think so? I haven’t spent much time in Philly. But consider Newport News (where it was built) home.
It was supposed to be a high-speed troop ship. After WWII, it was converted into first a troop ship, then a transatlantic liner (think the QEII the Brits have…).
It served in that role until around 1970, and was sold to a company that was using it for kinda luxe long-distance trips.
That co. went belly up, and it sat in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard from the mid-70s until it was taken somewhere in SE Asia to take out the interior.
The ship was converted into a passenger ship in the early 50s. There was almost nothing in the cabin that wasn’t made of materials infused with the wonderful asbestos board.
So it’s completely bare inside. Just steel. For many years, a lot of the design was classified. (May still be).
It’s been in Philly since the late-80s/early-90s, but nobody could figure out what to do with it.
Bummed as hell about the SS United States. Was very hopeful when the cruise line bought it. Then again when the Foundation was formed. But I can understand; there was practically nothing left inside. :-(
As a Great Lakes boatnerd who toured 3 different car ferries (2 retired) and one retired freighter this summer, this saddens me horribly as well. I think of all the effort these historical groups have put into rehabbing these pieces of maritime history and it makes me sick that the United States is going to just be sunk. I mean, sure, it's a more "dignified" end than scrapping, but still... my father-in-law might have sailed on her when he went to & from Europe during WWII. Just tragic.
:'(
I live in the Delaware Valley and seeing that ship as I drive over the Walt Whitman Bridge into Philly has been a part of my almost ever since I moved to the area. I too am saddened by its fate, which seems rather ignominious, given its storied past.
I think so? I haven’t spent much time in Philly. But consider Newport News (where it was built) home.
It was supposed to be a high-speed troop ship. After WWII, it was converted into first a troop ship, then a transatlantic liner (think the QEII the Brits have…).
It served in that role until around 1970, and was sold to a company that was using it for kinda luxe long-distance trips.
That co. went belly up, and it sat in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard from the mid-70s until it was taken somewhere in SE Asia to take out the interior.
The ship was converted into a passenger ship in the early 50s. There was almost nothing in the cabin that wasn’t made of materials infused with the wonderful asbestos board.
So it’s completely bare inside. Just steel. For many years, a lot of the design was classified. (May still be).
It’s been in Philly since the late-80s/early-90s, but nobody could figure out what to do with it.
Older news clip on it. https://youtu.be/dXikRlIt9FY?si=REACRY8wtRRgpPxv