SS United States
Everything you wanted to know about the SS United States.

Passenger and Crew
Stories and accounts from passengers and crewmembers.

Fun Stuff
Some entertaining material pertaining to America's flagship.

Links
Links to other SS United States websites.

Last Updated February 10, 2009
SSUSConservancyLogo
SOS - URGENT UPDATE - SOS - URGENT UPDATE - SOS - URGENT UPDATE - SOS
Save Our Ship

February 2009

SSUSC 2009 Calendar
 
Dear SS United States Conservancy Members and Supporters:

The SS United States Conservancy has learned that the SS UNITED STATES will soon be listed for sale.  The SS UNITED STATES was purchased by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) in 2003, and ownership of the vessel was recently transferred to a holding company controlled by NCL's parent company, Hong Kong-based Star Cruises.  In light of current economic conditions, the SS UNITED STATES is now in grave danger of being sold for scrap.  The Conservancy's press release related to the impending sale of the ship is available here. 
 
The American-built SS UNITED STATES shattered all trans-Atlantic speed records on her maiden voyage in 1952 and remains the fastest passenger liner ever built.  She was listed on the National Register of Historic Places before attaining 50 years of age because of her "compelling national significance."  The SS UNITED STATES must be saved for future generations.  We believe that a project to restore and revitalize the SS UNITED STATES could create thousands of jobs and help stimulate the economy in these challenging times as well as preserve one of the world's finest engineering achievements.
 
While the SS United States Conservancy has been working diligently behind the scenes to secure a future home and reuse for the ship, we have been continually hindered by the fact that the vessel remains privately owned.  If we are going to succeed in saving the SS UNITED STATES for future generations, we need all hands on deck.  The Conservancy is launching a major public education and outreach campaign and we need your help!
 
  • Reach out to Congress!   We urge all supporters to contact their members of Congress by visiting our website's new "Take Action" page at www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org.  Congress needs to act to prevent our national flagship from being sold for scrap.  On our website you will find text for a letter to your Senators and Representatives which can be copied and pasted into an email or snail mail letter, as well as instructions for how to obtain contact information for your elected officials.
  • Reach out to the Media!  Write a "letter to the editor" of your local newspaper!  Post a blog entry on one of your favorite sites!  Pitch a story to a media outlet!  Educate the press on the historical significance of the SS UNITED STATES!  Contact your local PBS affiliate and suggest that they re-broadcast the documentary film "SS UNITED STATES: Lady in Waiting."
  • Reach out to Friends, Neighbors, and Colleagues!  Pass on the word to everyone you know that the SS UNITED STATES is in danger of being sent to the breakers.  We need to join forces with local maritime unions, port authorities, civic organizations, and other constituencies to bolster our base of support for saving the ship.  Reach out to everyone you know and enlist their support!

The Conservancy will continue to recruit potential public and private sector partners to secure a dignified and sustainable future for the SS UNITED STATES.  During this period of high alert, the Conservancy has launched an SOS "Blog" on our website where we will post updates about the ship's status as they become available.  Please visit our website at www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org and click on "Blog" to visit. We invite you to share your views. 
 
Time is of the essence.  Our nation's flagship is once again facing the ignoble fate of the breakers' torches.  We must act now, we must act together, and we must save the SS UNITED STATES.
 
As always, thank you for your support of the SS UNITED STATES.
 
Board of Directors
SS United States Conservancy
www.ssunitedstatesconservancy.org
Phone (888) 488-7787

 

 

SS United States Video at Norfolk, 1984

 

by Wayne C. Forth, www.photoscenics.us

 

     

 

You can order a 1 hour video created by professional photographer Wayne C. Forth by visiting his website at www.photoscenics.us or www.photoscenics.net.  This is the best video I've seen to date of the SS United States' interiors.  The video was shot in 1984 just prior to the auction, and could be the last in-depth video created of the interiors of the ship before the artifacts and interiors were removed.  The video is available in VHS and DVD format, please specify to Wayne which format you prefer.  Videos are just $22.00 which includes domestic shipping.  Wayne will also be releasing a new DVD called "The SS United States Collection at Windmill Point."  As some of you may know the Windmill Point restaurant is now closed and Dr. Forbes is in the process of deciding what to do with her vast collection.  Wayne had an opportunity to videotape the entire collection before it is sent away.  Some of the items have been given to Mariner's Museum, the ship's bell is going to Christopher Newport University in Newport News.  When you contact Wayne, please mention you heard about his video from ss-united-states.net as I periodically receive a small commission from sales of his video to help pay for the costs of this website.

 

Keeping this website online requires me to pay a monthly webhosting fee and an annual fee to register the domain name.  This may not seem like much but over time these costs add up.  I am now accepting voluntary contributions to help cover these costs.  If you have enjoyed the content, please consider making a secure donation to the website through paypal.

 

Questions? Comments?  Suggestions?  Do you have a SS United States related contribution you would like to share online?  Please email me:

 

rich@ss-united-states.net

 

SS-United-States.net is copyright© 2000-2009 by Richard April.  Much of the content on this site is used with permission of the respective owners.   Please do not copy, reproduce, display, or distribute any content found on this site without obtaining  consent from me.