Remembering The SS United States

[P.J.]

Hi Everyone

I thought I would take a moment to post about another subject that's dear to my heart aside from Tuckers.

Tomorrow, July 1st is the 58th anniversary of the maiden Transatlantic crossing of the American Superliner S.S. United States.
The Bug U as she is known to her fans and former crew smashed the Transatlantic speed record and took the coveted Blue Riband from RMS Queen Mary at the end of her first crossing. She retains the Westbound crossing record to this day.

Today the S.S. United States is moored in Philadelphia across from Ikea awaiting her fate. Preservationists at the S.S. United States Conservancy are doing all they can to save this one of a kind piece of U.S. history from the scrap heap and to help bring awareness to the plight of our nation's flagship will be lighting her funnels, bridge and radar mast on July 1st. If any of you Tucker fans are in the Philadelphia area I hope you will go see her and what's left of her glory, faded though it may be it's still there.

There's more to this great ship's story than I can tell so if any of you are interested please feel free to type SS United States into your search engine of choice. With any luck we can save this ship which is a largely forgotten part of American history.

[Phantomrig]

SWhe defianylt was a beautiful ship and one day can be again. I just heard a few minutes ago that the Govt plans of scuttling the USS olympia to make a reef as the ship is an example from a opressive time in the US histroy.

[P.J.]

I heard about the Olympia just today. Though it appears that a group has been founded to try to save her through private donations, they need to raise $2.5 million by January of next year to secure the ship. I just hope they're successful. I've also heard that the USS Texas has a hole in her that the museum staff patched with a balled up rag until they can get her dry docked. The hole is above the waterline but only if all the bilge pumps are active. Apparently one blew out last week and the ship sank a couple of feet before they could install a replacement and find the hole.

On the brighter side an announcement was made at todays event for the United States that the conservancy struck a deal with NCL to buy the ship for $3 million. NCL has finally decided to do right by the historians after selling both the SS Norway (Formerly the France) and SS Independence for scrap. I heard the scrap dealers offered $5.9 million for her but they decided to sell her for preservation at a discounted price to the conservatory instead. The deal hasn't been finalized yet but with any luck things will turn out in favor of the Big U

[Phantomrig]

That is great news concerning the United States, hopefully the other 2 ships can be saved as well.

[P.J.]

I know there are plans to dry dock and restore the Texas as soon as the end of this year so I don't think she's in any danger as long as her bilge pumps don't fail again. The Olympia is another story though. It would be awful if she was used to create a reef, we have plenty of other less historical ships sitting in mothballs in the reserve fleet. Once I get some money saved up and can afford to, I'll be donating to save the Olympia. She's worth saving for future generations.