SS United States: My Visit Today

[Guest]

My parents were on the maiden voyage because the family business supplied the blankets and deck robes. My mother who is 86 still talks about the fact that there were workmen working on finishing some of the cabins on the crossing. She also spoke of how you had a hard time walking the decks outside because of the wind. Because of the speed she said that the ship vibrated the whole time to the point that the water in their waterglasses had ripples in them. We have a blanket from the ship and also my parents, my sister, and I have an aluminum deck chair.

[D-V-C]

In her time, she could move faster backwards than any other ship could move forward.

Indeed she did; she still could if enough money was thrown in her direction (Not the intent of the Conservancy, but a dream nonetheless)

She also would burn about 600 tons of fuel per day on an average crossing speed of 32-35 Knots. The reports are she could reach 45 Knots at full-bore, others have claimed 50 Knots. We will never learn the true number though.

[Guest2]

In her time, she could move faster backwards than any other ship could move forward.

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[D-V-C]

If you ever do get any pictures, we'd love to see them!

I will most definitely make a post with them.

[Guest]

Why no pictures allowed?

Something that the lawyers cooked up against the Conservancy; I think it was the EPA that had something to do with it. Hopefully that roadblock will get removed shortly as I would like to get some personal pictures of her.

If you ever do get any pictures, we'd love to see them!

[D-V-C]

Why no pictures allowed?

Something that the lawyers cooked up against the Conservancy; I think it was the EPA that had something to do with it. Hopefully that roadblock will get removed shortly as I would like to get some personal pictures of her.

[D-V-C]

Sounds like that rig is in pretty tough shape.

Not as much as you would think, she was built to last and survive the North Atlantic Crossing; the hull is fine, the superstructure is all aluminum and fine. There are only a few WX-bulkheads and stairs topside that are steel which the top 3 inches or so are rotted. The deck is/was coated in a thick rubberized compound when she was built to prevent slipping, this coating has preserved many areas from corrosion. The pieces of non-vital nature of steel on deck are destroyed such as cargo winches, cabling, etc. She is no longer an ocean liner but a blank slate for whatever purposes seen fit.

[Erie Fishtug]

Why no pictures allowed?

[Guest]

Sounds like that rig is in pretty tough shape.

[D-V-C]

For those of you who are not aware, the S.S. United States is in danger of being scrapped. The ship that bears the name of our country can Not be let slip into the night. The ongoing efforts of the SS United States Conservancy are aiming to turn the ship into a multipurpose stationary facility for use as a hotel, bars, restaurants, conference center, etc. A 6-month feasibility study is about to be launched with major developers in N.Y. to place the ship on the West Side of Manhattan; all the hopes of all who love this ship and what she stands for are at stake.

If you wish to help or simply to follow updates please visit the website below:

http://ssunitedstatesconservancy.org/SSUS/blog/

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

I am the current head of the Fort Schuyler Chapter, a sub-chapter of the New York Chapter. As both a Cadet and an individual who understands what history means I wish to let people know of her plight.

This morning, a select group from the Chapter set out to see the ship we are working so hard to save, I wrote this later to tell others of my experience. Hopefully the next trip will yield pictures and hopefully a view of her historic power plant to show you all after the legal aspects are worked out.


Came back from a day trip (12-3-11) to Philadelphia earlier after meeting up with Dan McSweeney to do a quick run-through of the Big U with my fellow Fort Schuyler Chapter members. I put forward a sincere Thank you on behalf of the other members and myself for the opportunity.

She is a sight to behold; unfortunately no pictures we're allowed to be taken.Walking in to the Sideport you can not see much but two telephone operator boards and one old radar scope near the Starboard side, winding you're way up the spiral crew stair onto Main deck you can see only raised outlines on the deck where the cabins used to stand, although in the main lobbies and stairtower's the floor tiles are still present. Practically every pipe and cable has been stripped off and nearly nothing remains aboard the ship. The Bar in the Tourist Class Smoking Room is one of the last remaining recognizable fixtures present along with it's sinks and refrigerators and one lone stool; the down lights over the bar were dark. The once great theaters and ballrooms are stripped to nothing and not even recognizable. The elevators are still there, the floor tiles on each landing in the stairtowers still bore the deck names; a few overhead fixtures remained on some landings. The Enclosed Promenade still makes one warm and comfortable inside, the doors to enter the spaces still present with handles reading "Pull" or "Push" though they are not able to move. The exterior as to be expected is weathered.Anything aluminum is perfect and it is a good thing since most of her superstructure is aluminum, and anything made of steel is rotted completely and barely distinguishable. The famous rubberized decking is dried, cracked and bubbled, even beneath the shuffleboard markings sometimes revealing the aluminum deck beneath. Railings are missing from the raised game deck along with any of the equipment that once stood there. The Propellers Rest on the after decks only reminiscent of the great speed they once achieved. The lifeboat davits are gone, you would never even realize she had lifeboats if you didn't know any better.Walking forward along the Boat Deck the great scale of the stacks hits you and you realize.:This Is the SS United States. The Bridge is a hollow shell, only wires protrude through the past locations of equipment. The hand-operated wipers in the front windows still work fine however the same can not be said for the crank-open windows. The remains of the fire detection panel are just aft of the main bridge with only a few legible labels. There are two shower stalls remaining in the two quarters aft of the bridge, the only items left to identify what the rooms once were. The Port and Starboard spotlights along with their handles are still there.and still move; also the radio-direction finder remains. The Crow's Nest along with the kingspost's still have their shining silver paint and look practically new.There are small rust holes in the deck on some forward steel WX-Decks including the Bridge Wings reminding you to watch where you step. The Focs'le deck only brings the sight of rotted cargo gear here and there, not much remains. Surprising though, the DC Generators for the cargo runners are still perfectly intact even though things as benign as the ventilation fans are stripped away.

Her hull is a bit beaten but not battered, the outlines of "No tugs aft of this point" and Danger: Keep Clear of Propeller" can still be read along with draft marks. She is in a depressing state but she is still there and ready for a new life. I will remember this day as so many others have, the first day I ever saw her. She is the S.S. United States and she is here to stay.

Thanks for Reading.