From the March 8, 2010, USA Today.
And, another ship slowly rusting away in Philadelphia. The SS United States, America's greatest ocean liner, from before the days of the floating hotels, is in danger of being scrapped.
Norwegian Cruise Lines currently owns it and set a deadline back then set a deadline for someone to buy it by April or it would meet the scrap heap.
Today, the one-time pride of America sits gutted and rusting, it's last voyage in 1969 and docked in Philadelphia since 1996. Dockage and maintenance costs $800,000 a year. Despite the fact it is on the National Register of Historic Places, that offers little protection.
It will take $3 million to save it and maintain it for two years.
It was built and launched in 1952 at the cost of $70 million, of which the government paid two-thirds of it for use as a troop ferry if needed.
It was incredibly sleek and a symbol of America's post-war supremacy. On its maiden voyage, it went from New York to England in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, breaking the Queen Mary's speed record which had stood for 14 years. Because of the possibility it would be used as a troopship, its top speed was classified.
Here's Hoping the Ship Is Saved. It Sure Looks More Like a Ship Than These Modern Monstrosities. --Cooter
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