SS United States

ssMaritime.com & ssMaritime.net

With Reuben Goossens

Maritime Historian, Cruise‘n’Ship Reviewer & Author

United States Line

SS United States

SS United States is the greatest American Maritime Achievements

From the author’s private collection

One of the world's foremost marine architects, William Francis Gibbs was the brainchild to an American liner that would be like no other before it. His dream was to build a liner that would not only be faster, but also safer, and more technologically advanced than any other ship of the day. This project would challenge conventional thinking as it had a masterpiece of maritime design and technology, but she also had to offer her passengers the very best that any Trans-Atlantic liner could possible offer.

Preliminary designs started as far back as 1940. In 1943, the United States Line proposed the building of a new liner to the Federal Government, with a request to the Maritime Commission for funding. SS United States would cost a hefty $79 million, which US government heavily subsidised. Officially, the plans for this super liner were approved on April 5, 1948 and the project commenced.

She was built by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, the same builders who built her smaller sister the SS America in 1940.

Big U’s older sister SS America was completed in 1940. She was

sold in 1964 to Chandris Lines to become the poplar SS Australis

-----------------(From the Author’s private collection)

William Gibbs decided that the ship had to be completely fire proof, and he even ordered Steinway to build an aluminum grand piano. Steinway said a definite “no.” It was said the only wood onboard the ship were the pianos and the butcher blocks used in the kitchen, the rest being steel and aluminum.

On Saturday June 23, 1951, whilst still floating in a graving dock, SS United Stated was officially christened by the wife of Texas senator Tom Connelly. Although the First lady Bes Truman had been asked to do the honours, for reasons unknown, she declined.

The builder's trials took place in June 1952, which were followed by U.S. Navy trials. SS United States exceeded all expectations, and it was claimed that there was no doubt that this great liner would take back the Blue Ribbon for the United States.

She departed on her maiden voyage on July 3, 1952 and soon became one of the most sought after liners. Over the years she carried many famous people, from stars to Royalty. However, her claim to fame is being the fastest ship afloat.

During her trials she achieved a top speed of 38 knots. She departed on her maiden Atlantic crossing in July 1952, completing it in just 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes (From Ambrose Lighthouse to Bishops Rock) beating Queen Mary’s previous Eastbound record by 10 hours, after which she broke the Westbound record of 3 days, 19 hours and 20 minutes, giving her an average speed of over 34 knots.

On her maiden voyage to New York, she crossed the Atlantic in record time and was duly was awarded the much sought after Bleu Ribband. For years, the British, Germans, Italians and French have battled to build the fastest ship ever and gain the famed Bleu Ribband.

SS United States set’s sail for the United Kingdom

From the authors private collection

All of her superstructure and funnels were made of aluminium alloy. She featured telephones in every cabin, had one swimming pool, one gymnasium, two Turkish baths and two theatres.

Builders Plate

From the authors private collection

Specifications:

Built: 1952

Designer: William Francis Gibbs – Gibbs & Cox NYC

Engines: Steam D.R. geared turbines

Screws: Quad

Tonnage: 44,893 GRT US measurement / British measurement 52,072

Length: 990ft

Width: 101ft 7in

Draft: 31ft

Service speed: 30 knots

Passengers: 1928 – First, Cabin & Tourist

Cabins: 972

From the authors’private collection

During her early years she was one of the most popular liners plying the Atlantic. During the first ten years of service SS United States sailed with an average of 90 percent occupancy rate. However loadings soon plummeted, it was then decided in 1966 to operate a number of cruises between her voyages to the UK. With poor loadings, running mate, SS America was sold to Greek interests and she became the popular Chandris Lines SS Australis. The author was the Queensland (Australia) GSA for Chandris in the early seventies.

In 1968 SS United States was sold to the Walter Kidde & Company. Unfortunately, the holding company believed that she was obsolete and too costly, largely due to high labour costs. Sadly her days were numbered. In 1969 the government subsidy was withdrawn, this her days had come to an end and her owners decided to withdraw her from service. On November 7, 1969, she departed NYC for Newport News where she was laid up without any future plans.

She remained there until 1992, after a number of failed attempts to obtain her and return her to service, or preserve her as a maritime museum. She was towed across the Atlantic to Turkey to have her interiors gutted and asbestos removed. In 1996 she returned to the United States and laid up in Philadelphia here she has comically become known as “the largest abandoned vehicle in the city.”

Laid up in Philadelphia awaiting her fate

Photograph by & © Bohn Butler

She was sold to Edward A. Cantor who was a real estate developer, however he died in 2002, and the fate of the SS United States became an unknown factor. There were many. Then in 2003, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) owned by Star Cruises a Malaysian casino/cruise group, announced they had purchased SS United States and intended to return the ship to service as a state-of-the-art cruise ship as a part of the companies proposed US flagged fleet. They also purchased SS Independence. The plan to rebuild the United States, according to NCL, would mean that several decks would be built atop her, similar to SS Norway, as well as placing new engines in her.

All those who love this ship celebrated the purchase and future plans NCL had for her, obviously with reservations to the two aforementioned changes. However, many would say that NCL needed these two American ships to ensure that the US would give them permission to form a US flagged cruise company, which succeeded with the formation of NCL America.

The Grande Dame is surely a tragic sight

Photographer Unknown - * Please see the photo notes at bottom of page

The question is, will NCL restore the United States, let’s face it, the Independence requires little work, and she is still laid up. The other argument is, if NCL has such a great love for classic liners, why did they discard SS Norway, which could have been repaired although at quite some cost, but a great deal less than the United States. Indeed Norway could not sail the American ports, yet she was a major financial success in the Caribbean.

With the author having great doubts of NCL plans for her, a poll was placed on our “Save a Classic Liner” page. This resulted in 1,241 entries, 98.5% felt that SS United States would not be restored by NCL and that she would never sail again under their flag.

However, there is still hope to see her restored to her former beauty!

From the author’s private collection

SS United States - INDEX

Page One … “Save the SS Unites States Campaign”

Page Two … SS United States the Great Trans-Atlantic Liner – History page

Page Three … Photo Page One

Page Four … Photo Page Two SS United States as seen on Aug 20, 2007

Also Visit: http://ssunitedstatesconservancy.org

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I trust you have enjoyed reading this page on this fine and much loved passenger liner. If you have sailed on her I would like to hear from you, and if you have any photographs I would greatly appreciate some, especially those of the interiors and out on deck. Email Me!

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Commenced in the Passenger Shipping Industry in May 1960

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Photographs on ssmaritime and associate pages are: 1. By the author. 2. From the author’s private collection. 3. As provided by Shipping Companies and private photographers or collectors. Credit is given to all contributors. However, there are photographs provided to me without details provided regarding the photographer concerned. I hereby invite if owners of these images would be so kind to make them-selves known to me, that due credit may be given. I know what it is like, I have seen a multitude of my own photographs on other sites, yet they either refuse to give me credit and even refuse to remove them, knowing full well that there is no legal comeback when it comes to the net. However, let us show the charlatans up and do the right thing at all times and give credit where credit is due! Note: I do not credit those who send me photos as they are not the owners of the photographs concerned, unless the image is part of their private collection.

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