Deadline Arrives For Group Trying To Save S.S. United States
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The S.S. United States personified the best when it came to ocean liners. Now that same ship sits rotting, where it has been on the Delaware River since 1996. A group that owns the ship set an October 31st deadline to decide if there's enough money to keep the ship, and hope for a developer to come into the picture... or sell it to a scrap yard.
Susan Gibbs is the Executive Director for the S.S. United States Conservancy, a group aimed at bringing the ship back to life. Gibbs is also a name found on the ship, as her grandfather, famed naval architect William Francis Gibbs started designing the vessel in 1914.
"I just hope we pull it off. I hope we save this ship," Gibbs told Eyewitness News.
U.S. Presidents, European royalty and Hollywood celebrities made the trip across the Atlantic frequently, but those memories exist only on film and in photo albums. Today, money is tight.
Currently, the conservancy pays $60,000 a month just to store the ship at the Philadelphia pier.
Thursday night, Gibbs met with private donors for a final ship fundraiser. She told Eyewitness News the conservancy brought in just under $20,000 that night.
"Since earlier this month when we first announced to the world we had reached this point with the ship, we've raised $100,000," she said.
Gibbs says for now no more fundraisers are planned and she will consult with staff about the October 31st deadline and go over the current numbers. A complete redevelopment would cost more than $200 million. Gibbs is hoping a private developer would get involved. She told Eyewitness News she's heard from developers. Conservancy members plan to make an announcement on the future next week.
For more information on history of the ship and the conservancy, visit www.ssusc.org
