S.S. United States – Docked In Philly — May Be Headed To Scrapheap

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The group working to save the ocean liner — the S.S. United States — says without a buyer or development plan by the end of the month, it will have no choice but to sell the ship for scrap.

The S.S. United States Conservancy says it costs $60,000 a month to maintain the rusting hulk docked along Columbus Boulevard across from Ikea in South Philadelphia. Conservancy spokesman Tom Basile says the cash is running out:

“The financial burden of having to pay the $60,000 has just become unsustainable for the conservancy.”

The board, in a statement, says without a buyer or an infusion of cash by October 31, it will have no option but to sell the onetime world’s fastest ocean liner to a recycling firm.

Basile says talks continue to relocate the United States to one of two possible New York locations:

“Despite the progress on redevelopment negotiation, the timing of that additional financial support from our partners just may come too late.”

The Conservancy has scheduled an October 29th fundraiser at the Union League, in a last-ditch effort to keep its dream afloat.