O/T Maritime History SS United States

Meghan · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2025 6:45 pm

Quote:

***Update ***
Due to a Gale Warning and excessive high winds forecasted for the greater Philadelphia area for Monday Feb. 17, 2025, the departure of the SS United States will now take place on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025 at the low tide timeframe beginning at 12:03 pm.
Details on operations to move America’s Flagship are as follows:
- **COMPLETED** Friday, Feb. 14, 2025: Move from Pier 82 to 80.
- Departure Day - Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025: SS United States will leave Pier 80 and begin the journey down the Delaware River at low tide at 12:03 pm.
To follow her journey via GPS tracking, visit http://www.destinfwb.com/explore/eco-tourism/ssus.

Figures...

wesp · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2025 7:07 pm

Quote:

Departure Day - Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025: SS United States will leave Pier 80 and begin the journey down the Delaware River at low tide at 12:03 pm.

That will be a slow journey on the river, estimated at 5 mph.

A local water tour operator is offering a tour on Wednesday morning at 6:45 am to meet the ship as it passes Cape Henlopen at the mouth of Delaware Bay.

And the local forecast is for a low pressure system with snow later that day!

The venture is mindful of the song about Charlie on the MTA - will the ship ever leave?

The photo below was posted on the web as the SS United States was being maneuvered by tugs to an adjacent pier at high tide on Friday, February 14. Even in its shabby chic state, the ship gives the impression of style and speed, much like (insert your favorite regional streamlined 4-8-4, T-1 project, or Van Sweringen 2-8-4).

Wesley

Attachment:

SS United States Sm.jpg [ 78.47 KiB | Viewed 14149 times ]

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Mon Feb 17, 2025 9:47 pm

Forecast for Tuesday is blustery, wind NW 20 mph (17 kts) gusting to 35 mph (30 kts). Wind will abate some Wednesday.

Phil Mulligan

wesp · **Posted:** Mon Feb 17, 2025 10:44 pm

EJ Berry wrote:

Forecast for Tuesday is blustery, wind NW 20 mph (17 kts) gusting to 35 mph (30 kts). Wind will abate some Wednesday.

Phil Mulligan

The departure has been delayed until Wednesday at Noon.

~Wesley

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Tue Feb 18, 2025 10:39 pm

Here is the NWS Marine forecast:

Thursday...Small Craft Advisory conditions possible due to
northwest winds increasing to 15-20 knots with gusts up to 25
knots.

Thursday night and Friday...Gale Watch issued for Thursday evening
through most of Friday morning with northwest wind gusts of 35-40
knots possible. Light freezing spray possible Thursday night into
Friday morning.

Saturday and Sunday...The conditions are anticipated to be below
Small Craft Advisory criteria.

Phil Mulligan

wesp · **Posted:** Tue Feb 18, 2025 11:39 pm

Quote:

Here is the NWS Marine forecast:

Thursday...Small Craft Advisory conditions possible due to
northwest winds increasing to 15-20 knots with gusts up to 25
knots.

Phil,

I’m waiting for the re-postponement.

Wesley

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Tue Feb 18, 2025 11:58 pm

I understand Moran's got the job. They know what they're doing..

990 foot long ship; high freeboard; higher superstructure; huge funnels. River channel. Piece of cake.

P

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

Vinik Marine is doing the tow with McAllister assist boats.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1087

Over on Twitter/X there is a time-lapse video of the ship leaving her berth:
https://x.com/i/status/1892285366872506667

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2025 7:14 pm

I had heard it was Moran. Vinik No 6 has two EMD 16-645's with 5700 HP. Vinik's done tows to James River. Good to see McAllister's helping.

She's actually gone! At about 1515 EST today, the convoy stopped traffic by going under the Commodore Barry Bridge between Chester PA and Bridgeport NJ.

Faur winds and following seas.

Phil Mulligan

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

Quote:

"Fair winds and following seas"

Amen. Even if she deserved better, she'll never see Alang.

wesp · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2025 10:20 pm

Two photos from the early hours of the voyage of SS United States: a screenshot as the ship approaches the Philadelphia Navy Yard and a borrowed view as the ship passes New Castle, DE. I was scheduled for a local boat tour at sunrise on Thursday from Lewes, DE to meet the ship as it exits Delaware Bay into the open Atlantic. That tour was canceled. The ship is making better speed than estimated and will now pass Cape Henlopen during the night. Maybe that efficient hull design still works!

~Wesley

Attachment:

File comment: Passing the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

SS United States News Photo.jpg [ 94.85 KiB | Viewed 13225 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: Passing New Castle, DE

SS United States New Castle Small.jpg [ 84.12 KiB | Viewed 13225 times ]

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Wed Feb 19, 2025 11:17 pm

She still looks fast.

Alas, the Lockheed L-1049 Super Connie was flying in 1951 and the Douglas DC-7 came along in 1952. The Cunard "North Atlantic Ferry" had the impeccable British service.

But what a handsome ship, eh?

Phil Mulligan

Note: the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser had been flying but was not really a transatlantic factot despite the bar on a lower deck.

Larry Lovejoy · **Posted:** Thu Feb 20, 2025 8:54 pm

Coincidentally, I came across the attached recently during my other hobby of reading old newspapers.

/s/ Larry
Lawrence G. Lovejoy, P.E.

Ed Kapuscinski · **Posted:** Fri Feb 21, 2025 10:34 am

Interesting video on her departure from Philly.

https://youtu.be/Gt2zbgkKIxI?si=aVt44G3X6C3JRbUV