AMERICA’S FLAGSHIP - THE SS UNITED STATES - MAY ONLY HAVE WEEKS LEFT AFLOAT
Board of Nonprofit Votes to Explore Sale, Sends Out Urgent Call for Donors and Investors
to Prevent Scrapping of Famed Vessel

Without Financial Help, the SS United States Could Be Lost By End Of October

NEW YORK, NY…October 06, 2015— The Board of Directors of the SS United States Conservancy released the following statement today announcing that despite considerable progress toward finding a permanent home and viable redevelopment plan for America’s Flagship, the organization will be forced to sell the historic vessel to a responsible metals recycler by the end of October unless new donors or investors come forward.
The SS United States is the largest and most advanced ocean liner ever built in her namesake nation. Launched in 1952, the United States was developed as part of a Top Secret Cold War project to build the fastest ship in the world. She still holds the transatlantic speed record. The ship is an iconic symbol of America’s post-war power, pride and innovation. The statement appears below:

“After much deliberation and consultation, the SS United States Conservancy’s Board of Directors has decided to retain a broker to explore the potential sale of America’s Flagship, the SS United States to a responsible, U.S.-based metals recycler.

“We have achieved an extraordinary amount of progress in support of the SS United States’ potential redevelopment in recent months, including detailed plans, financial models, renderings, and engineering approaches with support from a number of major firms. In so many ways, we’ve never been closer to saving America’s Flagship, but we have also never been closer to losing this irreplaceable piece of our history.

“The Conservancy has been very clear in its communications to its supporters and the media that the carrying costs for the vessel total more than $60,000 per month. While our fundraising efforts have enabled us to meet those continuing obligations to date, thanks to the steadfast support of donors from across the nation and around the world, the financial burdens imposed by the ship’s ongoing expenses have become unsustainable.

“The Conservancy continues to do everything within its power to advance an outcome that protects the vessel, preserves her historical legacy, and secures a viable redevelopment program. As we have announced previously, redevelopment negotiations are ongoing. We have identified two potential locations that can accommodate the ship, and we are continuing complex talks with various entities regarding these sites. These ongoing discussions remain subject to confidentiality agreements signed by both parties.

“Despite this progress in our redevelopment negotiations, the timing of additional financial support from our partners may come too late, in the absence of another party willing to support the Conservancy or assume responsibility for the vessel at this time.

“If donors or investors step forward by the end of the month who are ready, willing, and able to help the Conservancy, America’s Flagship could still be saved. However, if progress toward a new sales option or an infusion of funds does not occur by October 31, 2015, we will have no choice but to negotiate the sale of the ship to a responsible U.S.-based recycler.
“Given the lead time required to broker the vessel’s potential sale, we believe it would be irresponsible to delay the start of this contingency planning.

“Choosing to explore these options was a gut-wrenching decision for the Board, but the Conservancy simply cannot exhaust all of its funds, leaving the organization in debt or with no resources to support its curatorial and education mission.

"We remain deeply committed to honoring the legacy of the SS United States through our curatorial and educational programs, and we will continue to prioritize this important work.
"We take our responsibility to our supporters and to the Conservancy's mission very seriously, which is why we believe that despite recent progress and potentially positive scenarios, this course of action is necessary.

“The sale of the vessel to a recycler is by no means inevitable. We remain hopeful that our developers can continue to advance their efforts or that additional financial support will be found in time.

“The SS United States is a unique and endangered historic landmark that has captivated the imagination of millions. We are determined to do everything possible during these final weeks to try to save her.

“The SS United States’ supporters from across the country and around the world have become like family. We have worked together against the odds to keep the nation’s last remaining and greatest ocean liner safely afloat. The ship has faced previous dangers and has withstood them, and we hope she can beat the odds again. Anything less would be, as Walter Cronkite once said, "a crime against history."

It is a shame when a ship like her is broken up but if the sale is organised correctly no doubt various small souvenir pieces of her with a certificate could go on sale.

I know some on here did not agree with me but it is time now to let the old girl die a respectable death rather than remaining tied up at a port and slowly sinking into the mud, as her hull filled with water, and her funnels started to collapse as has happened with other laid up passenger ships in the past !

Lets hope they can still tow her to a breakers yard without her sinking enroute !

I await the 'sold for demolition' notice, about time.

Pam

[ 10-07-2015: Message edited by: PamM ]

The reefing idea is not nearly that simple because the ship would first have to be cleaned of the contaminants including her paint. There's been several shows, articles, etc. showing the range of issues the US Government went through to reef old warships, etc.

As for the lack of interest .... that is not the issue at all. It is entirely economic. There have been major donors and even the potential developer contributed but unless a timeline can be sent it becomes an endless effort waiting for what might never come.

The ship remains rock solid and they are making progress on the redevelopment but the focus in on New York City which is a major hurdle where the various agencies, departments, etc. move glacially slow and getting agreements is a long process.

The developer has even engaged Gibbs & Cox to do plans but the challenge is the holding costs till they could get everything in place.

You only have to looks at what is happening to the QE2 laid up in Dubai to see that even they have not gone ahead with the conversion of that ship even though in that area now there is again plenty of money available !

Why do you not just admit the fact, that I have said all along, the ' ss United States' is not even remembered by many american people and there is many that have been born since she last crossed the Atlantic Ocean and do not even know about her !

Converting her into a profit making tourist attraction will not work in the USA !

Enough money has now been wasted in trying to save her for conversion, with her excessive mooring and insurance fees, so just let her be cut up and small souveniers can then be sold at places like the Fishermans Wharf shops, in San Francisco, where people do buy these sort of things !

RIP Atlantic ocean record holder !

I also believe there should be a full accounting of the Conservancy when all is said and done. I for one would like to see every donation made, salaries taken, and where the rest of the money was spent.