SS United States

For other uses, see SS United States (disambiguation).

SS United States at sea in the 1950s
History
United States
NameUnited States
OwnerUnited States Lines
OperatorUnited States Lines
Port of registryNew York City
Route
Ordered1949[1]
BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company[1]
Cost$71.8 million ($676 million in 2023[2])
Yard numberHull 488[3]
Laid downFebruary 8, 1950
LaunchedJune 23, 1951[4]
ChristenedJune 23, 1951[4]
Maiden voyageJuly 3, 1952
In service1952
Out of serviceNovember 14, 1969[5]
Identification
Nickname(s)Big U
OwnerVarious
Acquired1978
NotesMultiple owners since 1978[6]
OwnerOkaloosa County, Florida
AcquiredOctober 12, 2024
StatusLaid up in South Philadelphia, awaiting scuttling
General characteristics
TypeOcean liner
Tonnage53,329 GRT, 29,475 NRT
Displacement
  • 45,400 tons (designed)
  • 47,264 tons (maximum)
Length
  • 990 ft (302 m) (overall)
  • 940 ft (287 m) (waterline)
Beam101.5 ft (30.9 m) maximum
Height175 ft (53 m) (keel to funnel)[7]
Draft
  • 31 ft 3 in (9.53 m) (design)
  • 32 ft 4 in (9.86 m) (maximum)
Decks12[8]: 16 
Installed power
  • 240,000 shp (180,000 kW) (rated)
  • 247,785 shp (184,773 kW) (trials)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) (service)
  • 38.32 kn (70.97 km/h; 44.10 mph) (trials)
  • 43 kn (80 km/h; 49 mph) (claimed)
Capacity1,928 passengers
Crew1,044 [8]: 16 
SS United States (Steamship)
SS United States is located in Philadelphia
SS United States
SS United States is located in Pennsylvania
SS United States
SS United States is located in the United States
SS United States
LocationPier 82, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°55′06″N 75°08′11″W / 39.91833°N 75.13639°W / 39.91833; -75.13639
ArchitectWilliam Francis Gibbs
NRHP reference No.99000609[9]
Added to NRHPJune 3, 1999

SS United States is a retired ocean liner built during 1950 and 1951 for United States Lines. She is the largest ocean liner constructed entirely in the United States and the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction, retaining the Blue Riband for the highest average speed since her maiden voyage in 1952, a title she still holds.

The ship was designed by American naval architect William Francis Gibbs and could have been converted into a troopship if required by the Navy in time of war. The ship served as an icon for the nation, transporting numerous celebrities throughout her career between 1952 and 1969. Her design included innovations in steam propulsion, hull form, fire safety, and damage control. Despite her great speed, by the mid 1960s her passenger numbers began to decline as air travel between the US and Europe became more popular.

Following a financial collapse of United States Lines, she was withdrawn from service in a surprise announcement during her annual overhaul at Newport News Shipyard and all work on her was immediately stopped leaving a new paint job on her large red white and blue funnels half finished. A planned around the world cruise was abruptly cancelled, and the vessel was handed over to the US Maritime Administration and laid up at Norfolk International Terminals where she sat tied to a pier for the next 11 years. The ship has been sold several times since the 1970s, with each new owner trying unsuccessfully to make the liner profitable. With plans to convert her into a modern cruise ship, the ship's mid-century modern interior furnishings were sold at auction in 1984. In the early 1990s she was towed from Hampton Roads across the Atlantic to a shipyard in Ukraine for asbestos removal leaving her interiors completely gutted by 1994. Two years later, the empty hulk was towed back across the Atlantic to Philadelphia, where she has remained ever since.

Since 2009, the 'SS United States Conservancy' has been raising funds in an attempt to save the ship from being scrapped. The group purchased her in 2011 and has created several unrealized plans to restore the ship. Due to a rent dispute, she was evicted from her pier in 2024. As no other locations could be found, Okaloosa County, Florida bought her and after removal of hazardous materials, plans to sink the 72 year old vessel as the world's largest artificial reef near Destin, Florida by 2026.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Ujifusa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  3. ^ Cudahy, Brian J. (1997). Around Manhattan Island and Other Tales of Maritime NY. Fordham University Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-8232-1761-8. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Horne, George (June 24, 1951). "Biggest US Liner 'Launched' in Dock; New Superliner After Being Christened Yesterday". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  5. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (November 15, 1969). "Liner United States Laid Up; Competition From Jets a Factor; The United States Cancels Voyages and Is Laid Up". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  6. ^ "Retirement and Layup". SS 'United States' Conservancy. 2011. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  7. ^ "SS United States Specifications". ss-united-states.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.