Historic SS United States is ordered out of its berth in Philadelphia. Can it find new shores?

AP ^ | June 17, 2024

[Dr. Franklin]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The SS United States, a historic ship that still holds the transatlantic speed record it set more than 70 years ago, must leave its berth on the Delaware River in Philadelphia by Sept. 12, a federal judge says.

The decision issued Friday by U.S. District Judge Anita Brody culminated a years-old rent dispute between the conservancy that oversees the 1,000-foot ocean liner and its landlord, Penn Warehousing. It stemmed from an August 2021 decision by Penn Warehousing to double the ship's daily dockage to $1,700, an increase the conservancy refused to accept.

When the conservancy continued to pay its previous rate, set in 2011, Penn Warehousing terminated the lease in March 2022. After much legal wrangling, Brody held a bench trial in January but also encouraged the two sides to reach a settlement instead of leaving it up to her.

The judge ultimately ruled that the conservancy’s failure to pay the new rate did not amount to a contract breach or entitle Penn Warehousing to damages. But she also ruled that under Pennsylvania contract law, the berthing agreement is terminable at will with reasonable notice, which Penn Warehousing had issued in March 2022.

“The judge’s decision gives us a very limited window to find a new home for the SS United States and raise the resources necessary to move the ship and keep her safe,” Susan Gibbs, conservancy president and granddaughter of the ship’s designer, told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Besides finding a new home, the conservancy also must obtain funds for insurance, tugs, surveys and dock preparations for a move.

... said Craig Mills, an attorney for Penn Warehousing. “But after decades of decay and delay, it is time to acknowledge the unavoidable and return Pier 82 to productive commercial service.”

[HartleyMBaldwin]

if the nuclear power unit was restored

Never had one.

[Calvin Cooledge]

I was on it when I was 5 years old. My Dad was an army officer, transferred to Europe. 1959. In those days officers had a choice of air travel or 1st class ocean liner.

[Sooth2222]

[Hebrews 11:6]

A splendid memory for you.

[Don W]

The last deserving holder of The Blue Riband, an absolutely beautiful piece of naval engineering, and an honorable and historic vessel, but some folks just don’t care about history.

I get it.

It’s that kind of folks that burned the original wood that comprised Fort Edmonton for a Boy Scout Camporee. The mindset being: Only the now matters.

We are doomed with that kind of attitude.

[MinorityRepublican]

Sometimes it’s junk.

[Rockingham]

Sad but true.

[Dr. Franklin]

A fresh coat of paint and a little elbow grease and she’ll be as good as new in no time.

[Dr. Franklin]

Move it to Martha’s Vineyard and get a contract to house illegals, with a floating Biden-pier to all the tenants access to the shopping areas in town. They can hang laundry between the distinctive stacks.

Great idea! Let the illegals scape off the rust and repaint her for room and board while they said home.

[Dr. Franklin]

*sail home

[itsahoot]

Never had one.

Ooops, NS Savanna.

I was only 12 when SS United States was launched, no not the first one, the one in the 50's, memories get variable as time passes.

[Keyhopper]

Use it to repatriat illegals aliens.

[scouter]

I’ve been following this story for a good while. They were paying the agreed upon rent all along. The issue was that the landlord unilaterally and without warning violated the lease and doubled the rent.

[acoulterfan]

I sailed First Class with my parents in January 1957 at the age of 9 years old on our way to Germany. I still remember everything about it. John Wayne was on the same ship with us. We had our 1956 Pontiac Station Wagon on board. Dad taught me singles solitaire as there was not much for a 9 year old to do. It was the middle of the winter so had to stay inside.

[Dr. Franklin]

I sailed First Class with my parents in January 1957 at the age of 9 years old on our way to Germany. I still remember everything about it. John Wayne was on the same ship with us. We had our 1956 Pontiac Station Wagon on board. Dad taught me singles solitaire as there was not much for a 9 year old to do. It was the middle of the winter so had to stay inside.

Celebrities flying commercial airlines can be seen sometimes, but sailing with one would be a longer experience with more possibilities for interaction. How did the car get loaded? Was it just driven aboard?

[Dr. Franklin]

Use it to repatriat illegals aliens.

If they want to eat more than bread and water on the trip home, let them scrape rust and pain the ship on the way home.

[fredhead]

While mentioning Philly, the battleship USS New Jersey recently entered drydock for upkeep. It is a museum ship. While nearby, the former USS John F. Kennedy is waiting to be towed to Brownsville, TX for scrapping. Apparently that has been delayed due to a heron nest found in the stub of the mast. Sad that our last conventionally powered aircraft carrier could not be saved.

I spent 3 1/2 years on Big John.

[Lockbar]

Its is incredibly difficult to raise the millions it costs to dry dock and repair historical warships like the Iowa class and most recently USS Texas. This was a cool ship when she was in good shape,.. but now she is in really sad shape. Looks like it time for the scrappers.

[Ezekiel]

"She's in good shape for the shape she's in."

~ Johnny Cash

[SunkenCiv]