Frequently Asked Questions at ss-united-states.com

Q: ...I never knew there was such a ship. I found your site to be very interesting!
I have one question I could not find the answer to, though... When and why was
the SS United States decommissioned?

A: ..Economics put a full stop on the Big U in 1969.

That is the short version of what caused the SS UNITED STATES to be laid up. However, that really is not the whole story.

The Big U was laid up in 1969 because it was less of a risk to take her off line than to come up with a creative solution to overcome the incredible challenges that the line and all lines faced at the time.

Those challenges included:

1) competition from the growing airline industry - transatlantic jet liners were robbing ship passengers from the late 50s onward. Boeing introduced the 747 in 1969 and Pan Am initially ordered 25 of the jumbo airliners;

2) rising costs of fuel. The Big U appetite for Bunker C oil was 859 tons per day;

3) labor costs and damaging union strikes. Labor costs could have been adjusted for, but it is hard to calculate the damage done by union strikes. Some believe that organized union strikes prompted a shift in who made and worked on ships driving shipbuilding and shipping and ship passenger business off shore (to foreign markets). Ultimately this shift continues to impact the cruise industry today. Bottom line: the American cruise market is small and undeveloped compared to outside the US. And only now after more than 40 years, the first large American-made passenger liner is being built in a US ship yard. (America Classic Voyages/Ocean Development/US Lines to have steel cutting ceremony next month on - July 3 - the anniversary of the SS UNITED STATES' maiden voyage)

You might ask, "Could the SS UNITED STATES have continued to sail in stead of being laid up?" Of course she could have continued to sail, but only with a high risk of failure in an untried and unconventional marketing and operational strategy. Sadly though at the time, the decision was made to avoid operational risks, cut the losses and put down this beautiful transatlantic greyhound racer.

There is one more contributing factor to the end of the life of the SS UNITED STATES. This ship was the creation of William Francis Gibbs (Gibbs & Cox Naval Architects). Gibbs was legendary and known for his fierce protection and oversight of the Big U. He called the ship daily when she was at sea. G&C representatives boarded her at every home port arrival for performance monitoring and maintenance. Gibbs was deeply involved with maintenance issues related to ship operation, particularly boiler and turbine issues. The ship was his baby. Gibbs died September 6, 1967 a day after the arrival of the Big U into NYC completing voyage 352. Some close to the ship and Mr. Gibbs believe that his death was the beginning of the end for the SS UNITED STATES.

Looking toward the future - the SS UNITED STATES faces the same challenges she did 30 years ago. I remain hopeful that someone will step forward and implement profitable solutions that save the SS UNITED STATES.

Footnote: The SS UNITED STATES remains the largest passenger liner ever built in the USA.

Q: ... If the United States and the Titanic were to race transatlantic, by how
much would the RMS Titanic get blown away by the SS United States' impressive speed, timewise?

A: ...That's easy. Had the Titanic finished her voyage she would have arrived in New York about 40 years before the SS UNITED STATES! But, had they both begun their westbound voyages for NYC at the same time the story would be different. The SS UNITED STATES would have arrived in New York while the Titanic would still be some 1,300 miles out to sea. Time wise, the SS UNITED STATES would arrive about 2 days and 9 hours before the Titanic. FACT: The Big U still holds the speed record for westbound crossing. And she set it on her maiden voyage in 1952, just 40 years after Titanic's tragic end. There is no doubt that the Titanic disaster had great impact on the creator of the Big U, William Francis Gibbs. Ultimately the events of April 14, 1912 influenced the design and operation of the SS UNITED STATES.

Q: ...I don't have much money, like so many Americans, I live pretty much paycheck to paycheck. I have some knowledge in certain areas, a strong back, and most of all, I have the interest, desire, and passion for restoring and preserving history.
What can I do?

A: ...Spread the word. Hold on to your money for priorities closer to home. Besides, you can put something more powerful to work. Your passion.

Individually you can make a difference by freely exercising your constitutional right to speak up. To communicate. Motivate others to learn more about the SS United States and her future potential. Spread the word.

I know that sounds cliché, but it really is true.

So, who do you direct your communicating to? That's easy. Think of the connections you already have. Without knowing it, we are all somehow linked to a network. Some of our connections are with friends or co-workers and associates. Beyond that we have many informal connections with hundreds of other people that we see day to day. Simply think of a way to bring up, show or tell people about the Big U.

And then we have intangible connections that complement our life in some way every day. I'm referring to the media, your favorite radio station or newspaper or other source you turn to for news, information and entertainment. These sources can be connections too. Look in the phone book. It's really quite easy to broadcast back to media. Pickup the phone, write a letter or go on line and talk back. Tell them about the SS United States. And make it personal - by telling them why an old rusty ship is an important human story. At least to you.

You might find someone in the media or with influence willing to listen, to take note and perhaps consider joining in helping to spread the word. But, they'll be doing so only if it is a good story.

And the story of the SS UNITED STATES is a good story. It is a story about conflict. About dreams. It is a story about human accomplishment. And it is a story about changing times. It is a story about what might be, what could be, or what some hopeful people think should be.

Even an old short sighted media dog should be able to smell this story if you get it close enough to their nose.

And the story of the SS United States is a continuing story.

Do Americans care about their heritage? Why does the SS United States continue to attract the interest of so many? What is it about this grand old symbol of the 50s that casts such a spell? What might be gained by saving the SS United States? What corporation has the guts to take on such a great challenge? Alternately, consider the political storm it would take to turn the SS United States into a National Monument and make U.S. taxpayers her future guardians. What of the old-timers? Where are they? How did the ship impact their lives? And, now how is it that kids are discovering this all-American beauty on-line and falling in love with a grand old ship? How could the SS UNITED STATES impact future lives?

Yes, the SS UNITED STATES is a good story. One with many possible endings.

But if she is lost, there is no story. Only a sad ending.

A: She was a passenger liner, built with defense measures (Navy Specifications) that allowed her to serve safely and effectively as a troopship if called upon. These "extras" added no less than $27-million to her building costs, in 1949. Features included incredible speed and range (the fastest ship in the world), special safety hull design, redundant (two nearly identical) engine/fire rooms, deck strengthening for gun platforms and navigational enhancements and more. Final build cost of the Big U = $70,373,000.00 (in 1949 dollars). At the time the Maritime Commission voted to "sell" the new ship to the United States Lines for $28,087,216, reflecting the estimated cost of a normal ship of the time. The difference between this $28-million figure and the $70-million figure was paid for by US Taxpayers - giving America the largest, safest and fastest superliner ever built in the US, and a troopship if ever needed. She was indeed a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Trivia: During WWII - three United States Lines passenger liners were in fact drafted to serve as troop ships. Here are their names and their "military service" names.

Here's the ultimate trivia question: If the SS UNITED STATES was "drafted" to serve what would she have been re-named as? There may be no answer, as she was never drafted - but perhaps a Pentagon or MARAD official knows from contingency plans. If so, let us know.

Q: We have read about why the Titanic sank when several of its compartments
flooded over the top - even though it was supposed to be so safe because it
would float if less than 5 compartments filled. Can you explain how the
flotation safety measures in the S.S. United States were different?

A: There are two major differences. The Titanic had 16 WT compartments and the SS UNITED STATES has 20 water tight compartments in her hull design. More important than the number of compartments is the height they reach. As you know, Titanic's forward compartments filled and spilled over into other compartments as her bow dipped into the water. I've heard that Titanic's WT bulkheads exceeded the waterline by only 10 feet. By comparison, the forward water tight compartment on the Big U rises 40 feet above waterline (Over 70 feet above the bottom of the ship!). This is much higher than Titanic's compartments. But it is unlikely the Big U would have any flooding (if it encountered the iceberg the same way the Titanic did) because the Big U has a double skinned hull. Fuel and ballast tanks line the ship's bottom and sides for much of the ship. Had the Titanic had the same design, the damage she suffered would not have resulted in any flooding of passenger or crew spaces. Instead, tanks would have been breached - and the worst would have been the loss of fuel or ballast - not lives.

Q: I know the boilers and gears are all still aboard the Big U, but can they still run?

A: Good question. Yes, all engineering is in place aboard the ship - including her eight giant oil-fired steam boilers, steam turbines, reduction gears, shafts and all auxiliary machinery. For some time the ship was laid up with dehumidifiers and this helped preserve the ship. It is possible that much of the engineering could be renewed. However the greatest challenge is finding the talent to do so. Even the US Navy would have problems reactivating reserve fleet vessels because there is a lack of experienced talent knowledgeable in the restoration, maintenance and operation of these older powerful steam systems. For that reason, it seems likely that a new owner of the ship would install modern propulsion systems. However, there are also advantages to maintaining some of the older technology on the Big U. A hybrid mix of technologies might make a renewed SS UNITED STATES technologically exciting and provide some advantages in marketing and operational flexibility. There's certainly room for various technologies aboard the ship if done in a coordinated refurbishment. Imagine how she could be a technological show case if she utilized several different propulsion systems, such as gas-turbine, diesel electric and automated steam generation power - even fuel cell technology. And, a footnote. Since there are not one, but two nearly identical engine/fire rooms aboard - one could be restored and another fully outfitted with the ultimate in modern technologies.

Q: What do you think of turning the ship into a movie studio and production company/media ship?

A: It is a great idea! Like many others. The ship has miles of decks, hundreds of thousands of square footage and of course - an unmistakably recognizable profile. Your idea might interest someone in Hollywood. I suspect you could house more than a few media operations including broadcasting, movie making, post-production and of course fully house actors, producers and entire movie crews. With four storage holds (148,000 cubic feet of storage) you've got room for vehicles, sets and production equipment. Add mobility to the mix and you've got a powerful tool for a studio traveling to locations worldwide. I'd have to smile every time I saw a movie with the very beginning including the distinctive profile of the Big U as part of the corporate image. It would soon become an icon as recognizable as MGM's Lion. As I was growing up I use to listen to "pirate" radio stations broadcasting from ships off the coast of England. In fact, this radio listening experience led me to a career in broadcasting, so I've long thought a renewed Big U should include media facilities for on-board entertainment as well as local area broadcasting for near-shore marketing (advertising and promotion) as she moves up and down the US coast line. In fact, with the newest gyro stabilized satellite uplinks from ships, why not have a SS UNITED STATES channel broadcast world wide that features live concerts aboard, lectures and informational programming as the ship travels. Imagine the marketing power in a uniquely renewed and operated SS UNITED STATES as the most effective way to tap into the relatively un-tapped US passenger liner market. (global markets, too!) As you can see, the ship has all sorts of potential. The scope is greatly exciting.

Q: Why bother spending $400 million to fix up the SS UNITED STATES? Couldn't you just build another ship that's totally new for the same money?

A: Here's a way too long response, but there is no short answer.......Sure you could build a new ship for about the same money, but it would be just another new ship - not the classically beautiful and historic SS UNITED STATES. Actually, it is unlikely that you would end up ahead even for the same money. That's because the SS UNITED STATES hull is constructed to far more demanding standards than normal new builds. The engineering that went into the Big U is quite amazing. She is unique in this way - and it would be difficult to duplicate her. Another important reason for restoring the vessel is her heritage. Bean counters hate this part of the equation! Accountants have a tough time assigning value to "heritage" - like antiques. Why is an old tin toy that cost less than a dollar new now worth over $500 dollars to a collector? The answer: heritage is rare and valuable. It is fading. It is easily discarded and there isn't much of it left. Collectors realize this with baseball cards, antique toys, etc. There simply isn't another Big U anywhere. Also, it is a powerfully impressive symbol of the dedication of American workers and engineers- our ancestors. Really - a monument. Why bother? Because, it can be saved and millions of people will appreciate it, and ultimately come to see it, sail it or walk aboard it. Bean counters might like the millions of people that will pay for this "experience" - and that they can easily understand. But the real tough part is convincing them that people will want this experience. So, you see this is why it is so important to help build awareness of the ship. Spread the word. Tell everyone about this great ship and the even greater future she could have - that you and millions of others could enjoy. Whew! That's a long answer.

A: The ship is on an active industrial pier in Philadelphia. For safety reasons, yours and others, it is not safe to wander about the ship yard. If tours are offered, you'll hear about it and be invited.

A: Plans were to refurbish the SS UNITED STATES and sail it again out of Turkey. Ultimately the venture stalled and failed for many reasons. The ship was brought back to the US and ownership changed to the present owner.

A: The present owner is selling the vessel instead. This is most likely because the scope of "fixing" up the ship is extremely demanding and requires exceptional effort and expertise, and capital. If this project was as easy as most wished, we'd all have paint brushes in hand. But of course, it isn't that easy. FYI. 92,000 gallons of paint is what it would take to paint the SS UNITED STATES. Over 100 different colors of paint were used throughout the ship.

A: No, but it is for sale. Who can buy it? Any one with the money, private citizen, corporation, the government or any individual outside of the USA.

A: The ship is not neglected, tho' it looks poorly. The current owner does maintain the ship, there's even a Captain of record and crews board her to attend to maintenance requirements. She is also personally guarded 24 hours a day. As to saving the ship, there are many ways the ship could be saved. Some present more challenges (cost) than others. The ship shows signs of weathering, surface rust and faded paint. It will be relatively easy to renew the exterior. It is interior elements that present the greatest challenge - but only if the next owner is intent on returning the ship to sea going service. Machinery would need to be carefully restored and reconditioned or replaced. This is to be expected. Structurally, the ship is very sound. Keep in mind that the SS UNITED STATES was built to demanding US NAVY standards. Her hull is extra thick, and through much of the bottom she has a double hull type of construction. Contrary to reports that she is totally gutted, the fact is that all her major systems are in place, from boilers and turbines, to air conditioning, pumps, windlass and steering gear. There's a lot of life left in the Big U. As far as milage goes, she only has 17 years of service time - less than half the lifetime of most ships. There are presently many cruise ships sailing for foreign cruise lines that are much older than the SS UNITED STATES.