O/T Maritime History SS United States

Nova55 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:09 pm **Posts:** 597

The Intrepid has been to the shipyard in the last 30 years. SSUS has not.

I have seen lots of comments about "Her hull is still in great shape". Sorry, that is just not the case, and you do not even need to see her drydocked to know that. Nobody has seen what's going on below the waterline since the last time she was out of the water. I got to see her wind waterline (the place where sitting boats die), and it is littered with deep pock marks. Pock marks are the start of pinholes. Pinholes form larger holes. See: USS Texas. The best I can find, is SSUS has not been hauled since 1980.

Another huge thing that kills these boats sitting still, is electrolysis. Battleship New Jersey has put out some good videos on this. This is more of a factor at old piers because of stray power. I have watched electrolysis absolutely destroy things in months. I wish I had a photo handy of what it did to one of our aluminum boats.

Its a sad ending, but it is not unexpected by any means.

Dave Lewandoski · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:58 pm **Posts:** 1083

Overmod wrote:

I have never understood why, if the Intrepid is not in chronic danger of sinking, the United States socked next to her would have to be.

That's the logical place -- and perhaps the logical approach to docking and caretaking -- for that historic ship.

Have her on external display until you progressively rebuild interior spaces for museum purposes -- or hotel space.

the problem with SS US is the docking fees take whatever money the group manages to raise. Anyone with the big check book to do anything with Her has no intrest.

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Mon Oct 14, 2024 5:13 pm

Was somebody thinking SS United States and USS Intrepid (CV-11) are next to each other?
They are some 180 miles apart by going around Cape May.

Intrepid in NY Harbor is in much saltier water than United States in South Philadelphia. Olympia and New Jersey are even further upstream in the Delaware.

Phil Mulligan

Overmod · **Joined:** Thu May 24, 2012 1:37 pm **Posts:** 2492

The point would be to move SS United States from where she is, which has gobbled up all the millions of wasted dollars, to a controlled space adjacent to Intrepid, How much does Intrepid pay for 'dock' space? And where do the funds come from?

I'd have thought $4.4 million would have bought any decrepit pier anywhere along the Delaware. How often we see the advice here to 'own the property your equipment occupies'. That.

It surely won't happen now. At least it will be finally be a tourist attraction...

NVPete · **Posted:** Fri Oct 18, 2024 10:56 am

EJ Berry wrote:

Was somebody thinking SS United States and USS Intrepid (CV-11) are next to each other?
They are some 180 miles apart by going around Cape May.

Intrepid in NY Harbor is in much saltier water than United States in South Philadelphia. Olympia and New Jersey are even further upstream in the Delaware.

I remember the United States docked down in Norfolk during my hazy gray Navy days, Phil. I'm sure that didn't do it any favors. LOL

joe6167 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 18, 2024 4:31 pm

From "What's Going On With Shipping", a discussion on the SS United States:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFIPAJEl1TE

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Fri Oct 18, 2024 9:08 pm

She's tied to Pier 82 South, easily visible to traffic on Delaware Ave, I-95 and the Walt Whitman Bridge. She is on an even keel and has shown no sign of shipping water over the last 30 years. She has good pumps, but they must use shore power.

Phil Mulligan

wesp · **Posted:** Fri Oct 25, 2024 7:53 pm

The ship is now going to Mobile, AL instead of Norfolk for preparation for reefing. A departure date has not been set.

~Wesley

wesp · **Posted:** Wed Nov 06, 2024 11:06 pm

According to a post on Facebook the SS United States will start its final voyage to from Philadelphia to Mobile on November 15.

Wesley

Quote:

The SS United States Conservancy has received word from Okaloosa County that it is on track to fulfill the necessary requirements by local, state, and federal agencies to move the SS United States from Pier 82 in South Philadelphia to a docking area in Mobile, Alabama, where preparations will begin to ready the ship to become the "World’s Largest Artificial Reef." This could occur as early as next week depending upon weather conditions and other factors.

While subject to change, operations to move America’s Flagship will likely begin Thursday, November 14, 2024, and will continue through the day on Friday, November 15, 2024. The complex operation will be conducted in phases:
- Nov. 14, 2024: Tug boats will secure themselves to the SS United States during high tide and begin maneuvering the vessel to the north side of the slip and secure her at Pier 80.
- Nov. 15, 2024: Tug boats will begin maneuvering the SS United States into the Delaware River pre-dawn, in preparation for low tide. When the ship is passing under the various bridges (Walt Whitman Bridge (I-76), Commodore Barry Bridge (U.S. 322), and the Delaware Memorial Bridge (I-295)) along her route, the Department of Transportation will be coordinating bridge closures.

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Thu Nov 07, 2024 10:47 pm

Tugs are coming next week to start moving the ship to Mobile. Getting the ship out of her berth and headed downstream in a flowing tidal river will be an exercise in seamanship.

Tugs got her in there; they can get her out.

Phil Mulligan

Meghan · **Posted:** Thu Nov 14, 2024 8:30 am

For those hoping to pay their last respects, there has been a temporary stay. The second link is to a GPS tracker provided by the new owner.
https://billypenn.com/2024/11/13/philadelphia-ss-united-states-ocean-liner-leaving-philadelphia-okaloosa-county/
https://www.destinfwb.com/explore/eco-tourism/ssus/

For the record Matt and I are not debating whether or not to take the kids out of school to go see this move, but where to take them. Even my (Oh My God where has the time gone) college freshman daughter is willing to put up with her parents for a few days for this as she has never seen the Philadelphia waterfront without the ship being berthed there.

(Maybe I've been a lawyer too long. I cant help but wonder how big a donation Ikea made for the plug...)

heatermason · **Joined:** Sat Jan 18, 2020 1:12 am **Posts:** 42

Hope springs eternal:

https://www.newsmax.com/thewire/s-s-united-states-ship-sink/2024/11/20/id/1188802/

wesp · **Posted:** Wed Nov 20, 2024 5:27 pm

Oh, no!

This ship has been sold and paid for.

The ship made a safe transatlantic tow in the early 1990s. Taking it down the coast to the Gulf should not be an issue given a stretch of good weather.

Susan Gibbs, granddaughter of designer William Francis Gibbs put it nicely with this quote.

Quote:

There’s more than a little bit [of sorrow],” said conservancy president Susan Gibbs, who is also the granddaughter of the ship’s lead designer, William Francis Gibbs. “It’s a big move, but I do get the sense that she’s ready to make a move. I mean she’s been here in Philadelphia since 1996 and that’s a long time for a fast-moving ship just to stay put. So I think she’s ready and I think we’re getting ready to let her go.

As the song goes - "now's the time to say goodbye.."

~Wesley

Ed Kapuscinski · **Posted:** Wed Nov 20, 2024 5:34 pm

It's such a shame this thing will be sinking with all of those dollars that could've gone to projects with actual hopes of preserving something in its holds.

Nova55 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:09 pm **Posts:** 597

North of 40 Million, to be exact...

https://www.inquirer.com/news/ss-united ... 41117.html