GO SS UNITED STATES! Let’s save that old girl!

Lets do it, Start filling us in. What do we need to do. There’s gotta be a lot.- J

Yes please let me know what I can do to save this great ship!

Thanks for everyone’s support. Please keep checking our blog for more details about ways you can get involved.

Whilst at sea last week I watched the DVD “Lady in Waiting” I simply can’t believe the American people will just sit by and watch this fabulous flagship mrot away. Surely there is something we can do about this.
Maddy UK

If the S.S. United States could be returned to the North Atlantic service and do the crossing in 4 or 5 days (the Queen Mary 2 takes 6) I would never fly to Europe again; I would take the ship every time. Does anyone enjoy flying anymore? I’ll be I’m not the only person that hates it.

Save the ss united states!!!

Even so far away from Switzerland, I’ve been watching the news on this site for many years, some where full of hope and some very close to an end, and now it seems to go again toward an end. I have to give all my respect fo everyone who fights to keep this ship alive. It doesn’t need to be explained why the SSUS is a piece of history, she allways was, there is no question. I hope it will end in a good way, If there is anything I could do, I would, just let me know.

It is time to turn words into actions. we need to save her. i am a drafter by trade and a naval enthusist my love is the titanic but the big u has my respect because of what she can do, and how she is the last of the oceanliners which their construction was and look is true art unlike modern vessels so if there is any way i can help email me

On board and ready to assist, cap’n!

I have a three foot replica of the SSUnited States sitting in my south windows overlooking the real thing. I hope she can be saved.

Ditto on post by JCEEK, I too am a Mechanical Designer/Draftsman and the BIg U is from an era when American Industry was #1 in the world. We really have lost that. Save her and get America back to the top!!

Just watched the video “Lady in Waiting”. A very sad state of affairs but hopefully the ship can be saved. Thanks to all who have invested time and effort to keep this story alive.

worlds end farm saxtead suffolk england.ss united states,this ship must be saved!

Send $1.00 each to the SS United States Conservancy – The cost of a Big Cheeseburger to save the Big U…
If EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE did this the conservancy could buy her, find a home for her, rebuild her into a static attraction and SAVE HER!
I have done without some 250+ cheeseburgers over the years to help and lost weight!
Now go do the right thing and donate.
The SS United States Conservancy had nothing to do with my asking YOU ALL to help with cash donations, you all ask to help THEN HELP!

great to here ss united states is not being scraped,and ive never even seen it.

My Mother sister and I were passengers on the Big U on the voyage New York Le Havre Southamton on August 14-19 1959. Our stateroom was U-11. I consider myself very fortunate to have made this voyage.I remember at 11:30 the call all ashore that are going ashore; then seeing the Moran tugs ready to pull her into the Hudson.At noon I will never forget the blast of her whistle,loud and booming. I wish that I had stayed on deck to watch her sail down the Hudson,but my Mom and sister wanted to eat.The food was wonderful even in tourist class.We had a boat drill about three hours out of New York. The crew took them very seriously and made sure passengers did too. I have wonderful memories of swimming in the salt water pool,playing bingo horseracing and shuffleboard and going to the movies. We had first run films including the Diary of Anne Frank and The Horse Soldiers.When the Big U entered Southhamton on the afternoon of August 19, we were greeted by people waving from passing boats.We ate dinner aboard ship before we dis-embarked,went through customs then caught the Boat train to Waterloo Station in London. Just before we got to the station,someone hollered there is Big Ben,what a thrill.The last time I went to England in 2006 sitting in the middle seat of a 757, I thought of the Big U and I was a lucky kid.

I would like to walk on her decks and feel the steel.
Touch American history.

I,m ready willing and able.How about the History Channel?It seems to me a plea for help following the film would be veiwed by much larger numbers of Americans,or a national drive at the elementry school level.Isn,t that how the USS Constitution was finally saved?

There is SO MUCH that can be done to save her, but what plans are you bringing to members of Congress and the White House to convince them? With things the way they are in the economy right now, it will be difficult (but not impossible) to convince someone like John McCain and John Kerry (both Navy Veterans) to support such legislation, so you must give them more than just the term “living History”. What about discussing a joint-effort with the Intrepid Museum and Mayor Bloomberg in NYC? Tourism is a BIG part of the NYC economy, and placing the “Big U” rightfully next to the U.S.S. Intrepid as a floating Hotel/Museum would be a fitting tribute to both ships! What a great way for people from all over the world to get a true appreciation for our country’s maritime history!!!

What about contacting NCL and asking them to be a part of this effort. While their plans to return her to the sea have been squashed by economic realities, they, like any other corporations want good public relations. Sending this great ship to the “Breakers” (a death worse than sinking) is causing “Latitudes Members” of NCL such as myself great anguish, and makes me think twice about considering them as one of my preferred cruise lines worth sailing. I am sure you could build a relationship with NCL, and change the brain trust’s thinking in that company faster, by encouraging them to help save her, rather than sell her to the ship-breakers of India or Pakistan. What better a way for NCL to build better, long-lasting Public Relations, than to save an American icon! They need good Public Relations more than the few million dollars they would get for selling her as scrap-metal. They already have one of their ships calling New York City its home, so imagine what it could mean to them to be listed as the cruise line that saved the S.S. United States, and listing the great lady as an exclusive Pre or Post-cruise excursion of NCL while their passengers are in the Big Apple!

Those are just a few of the many options that could be considered, but most importantly, they are all WIN-WIN-WIN possibilities for ALL parties involved with the S.S., United States and her future

Hi everyone.
I live in San Francisco and was sickened by the loss of the Independence. She was quietly taken to sea under the cover of fog one morning.
NCL can’t be allowed to scrap last of the US Built liners. The Independence was the last US flagged liner still in operation, and I believe the last built. NCL bought the Indy and the United States only to gain US flagged tonnage to permit them to operate in US waters. They never intended to repair either vessel.
Letters to congressmen have gone unanswered.
Personally, I’d like to see NCL go insolvent.
They scrapped the fabulous Norway/France, and they’ll do the United States if we let it slide from the public eye.
Tell EVERYONE. CALL your PBS station and have them air the film again (they can be hard to e-mail and you can never be sure it’s been acknowledged). It’s only been shown a couple of times here and at late hours.
Don’t give up on the Big U.

I would love to help save the United States! Just let me know what I have to do!

I am currently negotiating to purchase a cruise ship to
replicate and turn into a tribute to Titanic….I am so
discusted with the way the American people have responded
to the cry “Save The SS United States” that I would love
to purchase the ship and replicate her to evoke that of Titanic so she can sail the seven seas with the intent of preserving much of the ships
history…..she would appear in a major motion picture as well…a documentary on the conversion is planned to
tell the story of the original ship prior to turning her
into Titanic…..she would sail again and I guarantee the
public will know her original story and she will again sail the seven seas and will never again end up as a rusted hulk ready for the asian scrapyards…contact us and let us help save this beautiful ship so the world can enjoy her….cheers Graham

My memories of being onboard this ship was incredible. Hopefully she will be saved. Please keep me in the loop and anything that I or my company (tv production) can do to assist…would love it.

I rode on the S.S. United States from Europe back to America in 1959. It was the most peaceful, and pleasurable time I’ve ever had. Seeings as the NEXT ship I rode on, was a U.S.S. Navy Troop Carrier, carrying myself, and my fellow Marines to Vietnam. That, was the OPPOSITE experience!
Every time we allow a piece of our History to be destroyed, we are destroying a piece of ourselves. We, ARE our History. She set many firsts, NOT to mention one that still stands, as she set the FASTEST ship crossing of the Atlantic EVER. A Record that STILL stands. And, there are NO LONGER any U.S. flagged passenger ships. The U.S. is quickly becoming a 2nd rate country, in ALL aspects. While our President (using the term LOOSELY), attempts to police the world, and KILL MORE of our young men (Something I KNOW a good bit about), our Country, is being FORGOTTEN. BUDGET, WHAT BUDGET? BILLIONS are being spent in the Middle East, LET THEM BE. Set Israel ON THEIR OWN, SINK OR SWIM. THEIR PROBLEM!

Fot me as a former US NAVY Vet..I can`t imagine letting this great ship that bears our countrys name..they Goverment wastes so much money (our money) on stupid ideas and companies that deserve no help especially with my money..why can`t they step up and save this old ship..in these times where our country seems to take a beating all over the world why not spend the money for the good..show our pride in one if not the only ship that spreads our name..and if they want to talk a return on thier (mine) investment there could be none better..don`t let this grand lady go the way of so many of my US NAVY ships did..to rot away at some pier or sold for scrap..can anyone honestly tell me that the company that bought her will actually rebuild her the way she was..when they have all the fancy ships in thier fleet now?..please!..sorry folks..she was cheap no doubt and the Gov`t would not stand up to keep her going..sure the USA never really owned her..but can anyone see what I am talking about?..lets start something now..it`s not too late.just how much money could it make?..who knows..who would pay?..(me) for that one I would say yes to..never gave them permission to spend my hard earned money to save GM..or the idiots that ran those banks that run off with our investments and then blamed the economy all the while they are getting paid huge bonuses..yeah..sure..hey lets sell the Jefferson Memorial..oh no..how about the White House..tradition..memories..pride..bring her back..

I sobbed when I got the news that NCL could sell our grand old lady to the breakers. I’m deeply disgusted and disturbed that a Chinese based company could sell an AMERICAN icon! At this point I’m doing everything in my power (including becoming a plank member) to save the Big U. We all need to reach out to those who don’t know the significance of this gorgeous ship and urge them to join our cause. She has historical significance to this great country and I can’t imagine the world without her. God bless the Big U!

Hello All,

Recently I’ve noticed that some individuals have resumed contacting their elected Congresspersons. Hopefully they show some interest and not lip service for becoming involved on behalf of the SS United States.

I’ve written letters to then Senator Clinton in 2001 and Representative Steve Israel in 2004 requesting Congressional support with the typical vague response, maybe this time the light will shine on Congress.

Lee Norberg
Oakdale, NY.

PS: Just visited my 95 year young Dad two weeks ago and kept him up to speed on current news, broke his heart to hear scrap rumors. My Dad worked for Gibbs & Cox on the SS United States Project fron 1948 to 1952 as a Electrical Engineer under Department Head Mr. Norman Zippler.

I too hope this ship can be saved. I saw last evening the documentary on the ship and it was wonderful. I hear that the Norwegian shipping line has purchased it and they plan to renovate it. My only comment is that it was based on the people traveling in the upper classes. It was the ship that I emigrated to America on in 1963. I was not wealthy and so I was very low down in the ship. I remember that it was a very small cabin, no porthole with bunk beds. I was matched with a roommate that spent the whole time in her bed, she had recently had dental work, was in pain and it was a very rough crossing so she was sick most of the time. In the movie they talked about the rough Atlantic, size of the waves etc. but acted as if it didn’t affect the passengers. Believe me it did, it was a very rough crossing if you were down in the bottom of the ship. My memories were of how fast it crossed the Atlantic, how sick I felt and it was actually the worst trip I had. I had originally travelled to Canada via the SS Ivernia and returned to England on the Saxonia (the Ivernia renamed). Both of the Cunard company. I loved my first trip on the Ivernia.
I’m sure if I had been in the cabins higher up which were featured on the show that I would have enjoyed it more. Think of the Titanic and the people who were in steerage. I think that was more where I was.
I do hope they can restore the ship though and I heard they would make changes so there are more balconies etc. since people traveling today on the liners want that.
I was very excited at a flea market as I found an old tin of Bensons Choice Confections (sweets/candy) that must have been sold aboard as it had the SS United States ship on the top of the tin. Somebody had used it for storing buttons in and I bought it complete with the buttons for $15.00. I was so pleased to have it.

Let me know if you need any help. I have extensive experience bringing old girls (ships) back to life. E-mail me I will send you my bio.
Good Luck
Scott