SS United States

[Rob Lightbody]

Here's another one, cleverly and professionally done.

I do hope she can be saved, even as she is now, she's something special.

[Chris Thompson]

Saw this article yesterday, plans to sink her as a reef off of the Florida coast.

https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2024/08/16/ss-united-states-philly-sale?fbclid=IwY2xjawEvFDhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXOdge3CCF8kafRL8yYSC7Wmm9psXomhWln88W3B_Hg-DF8dibqofC7uCQ_aem_vZhm2qTgrzvX8-SnI_QUNg

[Lynda Bradford]

The conservation group have done such a lot to try to save the ship.  It is unfortunate that a ship that was the pride of America will end her days as a reef. 

[Rob Lightbody]

Time is running out.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/20/ss-united-states-philadelphia-removal

[Chris Thompson]

Digging through some old video tapes I found this of my visit to the SS United States in 1992 off of Istanbul.
Shame I did not have any interior footage.

[Rob Lightbody]

Wow, that must have been amazing!

Was this before or after she was gutted of everything?

Poor thing, she survived so long!

[Chris Thompson]

Hi Rob, the video was before she was totally gutted, there were still floor and wall coverings.
I can remember being amazed by the quality and condition of the carpeting in the lounge,
more luxurious than on the Vistafjord. The wheelhouse was gutted at that time due to
the auctioning off of fittings in the 80's.

[Chris Thompson]

Just saw this pop up on a FB group, a lot of grumbling in the comments but personally think it looks pretty cool.
Reminds me of the Conte Biancamo exhibit in Milan.

[Rob Lightbody]

It's better then nothing!

The Netherlands managed to save their "ship of state" and have made her a lovely success, I think it's sad that America couldn't do the same, especially as she's hung on for all this time against all the odds.

[Chris Thompson]

The difference is Rob that the Netherlands received the Rotterdam intact from service, QE2 was intact, the Queen Mary was intact..... the United States is a stripped out hulk, unfortunate but sad reality, restoration would cost a fortune.

[Rob Lightbody]

Fair enough, although for both QE2 and Rotterdam, all the cabins were erased and rebuilt from scratch anyway... and for QE2, they've had a massive problem with asbestos lined walls making everything more difficult... with SSUS someone would have had a blank slate to create whatever they wanted inside her, without upsetting us lot!

[Andy Holloway]

Fair enough, although for both QE2 and Rotterdam, all the cabins were erased and rebuilt from scratch anyway... and for QE2, they've had a massive problem with asbestos lined walls making everything more difficult... with SSUS someone would have had a blank slate to create whatever they wanted inside her, without upsetting us lot!

A blank slate maybe, but not a blank cheque!

[Chris Thompson]

Regarding conversion of a working ship to a floating museum, it’s pretty handy if all the electrical and plumbing is still there. You definitely need lighting to work, looking at the interior photos of the SSUS after the asbestos removal I doubt whether any of that remained. Remember she had a reputation of being fireproof, which means there was a lot of asbestos in there.

[Joann Scott]

Sad to see the condition of the SS United States and it couldn't be saved in earlier years. There have been other ships that were also being tried to save.
Joann Scott CTC

[pete cain]

nice video Rob,  must be some ghosts on there  shame , poor old girl,