The World’s Fastest Ship Is Decaying In Philadelphia… But It May Sail Again Soon
The Titanic springs to mind for most people when they are asked about historic cruise ships — however, an equally if not more impressive vessel sits in disrepair at Pier 82 in Philadelphia.
The SS United States was built in 1952, and on its maiden voyage it set the new transatlantic speed record — which it still holds, even though it hasn’t been on a voyage since 1969.
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The SS United States first set sail on the Fourth of July in 1952, moving at speeds of up to 36 knots (almost 44 miles per hour). The ship reached Europe in three days, ten hours, and 42 minutes - ten hours less than the previous transatlantic record.
Who travelled on this luxury cruise ship, you may ask? During its glory days, the SS United States carried the likes of Princess Grace of Monaco, Salvadore Dali, Rita Hayworth, Harry Truman, Cary Grant, Walt Disney, and many more notable celebrities.
Here's a photo of the ship where it is located today, at Pier 82 in Philadelphia. It was retired in 1969 and kept in operating condition as a backup ship for the Navy until 1978. The ship changed ownership a few times until in 2003, when the SS United States Conservancy sprung into action with a campaign to raise money to maintain the vessel. The Conservancy has maintained it since, paying about $60,000 per month for docking and maintenance (and you thought your rent was expensive).
As it turns out, though, the SS United States may see the open sea again one day soon. The Los Angeles-based Crystal Cruises recently signed an agreement with the Conservancy that might lead to the ship’s restoration, and its return to an active cruise ship by 2018. Crystal Cruises will be running a feasibility study over the next nine months, to see if the massive costs of refurbishing the ship and getting it up to code will be worth it.
Fingers crossed — this would be a fantastic piece of history to bring back to life! Watch the video below to see more of the ship and hear more about its fascinating history.
Did you ever set foot on the SS United States — or do you know anyone who has?
