America’s Liner

Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s for March 3, 2025

Off she went….

On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, the SS United States, the liner often called ‘America’s Liner’, was towed from her berth at Pier 80 in Philadelphia, where she had been waiting for 30 some years. I have followed this ship for many years, with the ships manifest, memorabilia and photographic images, because it was on this ship my parents and I immigrated to this country from Great Britain in the mid 1950’s. A little girl below, who could easily have slipped into the ocean, (ok, Mum and Dad??) not knowing what was ahead with this big adventure she was on.

I had hoped that the ship builders granddaughter Susan Gibbs could save her grandfathers creation and bring it back to a useful entity once again. I had the pleasure of meeting this determined lady, and understood her passion. Sad to see that not to be.

The ship was designed by American naval architect William Francis Gibbs and could have been converted into a troopship if required by the United States Navy in time of war. The ship served as an icon for the nation, transporting celebrities and immigrants throughout her career between 1952 and 1969. Her design included innovations in steam propulsion, hull form, fire safety, and damage control. Despite her record speed, passenger counts declined in the mid-1960s due to the rise in jet-propelled trans-Atlantic flights. Below, her at the height of her beauty, and below that, what 55 years of sitting and waiting will do……

First-class passengers were entitled to the best services and locations the ship had to offer, including the grand ballroom, the smoking room, first-class dining room and restaurants, observation lounge, main foyer, grand staircase, and promenades. Most of these facilities were located midship, distant from the vibrations and distractions of the engines and the outside.

The liner’s famous passengers favored first class due to its prestige, priority service, and spacious cabins. The Duck Suite, which was popularized by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, was the ship’s best-known stateroom. It was created by combining three first-class staterooms into a single suite containing four beds, three bathrooms, two bedrooms, and a living room. Up to 14 similar suites could be created in a similar way, establishing a level of stateroom above that of a standard first-class ticket. Tickets for the two-bedroom suites started at $930 ($10,552 in today’s funds); these were aimed at the wealthiest passengers on board. Much like the Duck Suite, these rooms reflected a post-war American standard of living, lacking in intricate details and adorned with natural scenes.

Cabin class was aimed toward the American middle classes, striking a key balance between the affordability of tourist and the elegance of first class. Each cabin had four beds and a private bathroom, and were located primarily aft. While inferior to first class, passengers received service and had access to amenities that were historically reserved for the highest class on other ocean liners.The food, pool, and theater were shared with first-class passengers, making cabin class ideal for those who wanted the first-class experience without paying first-class rates.

Tourist class was aimed at those who were unable or unwilling to spend much on a ticket; it was often booked by migrants and students. Cheapest of all tickets, tourist-class cabins were located at the peripheries of the ship, where rocking and noise were most pronounced. These small cabins were shared among passengers, each room containing two bunk beds and simply furnished with little detail. Communal bathrooms were shared with all tourist-class passengers in the same passage. Service from the crew was lacking compared to the other classes, as tourist-class passengers received the lowest priority. While equivalent to the third-class on other vessels, these poorest conditions on United States were noticeably better than what was offered on other ships. I believe this was the way we sailed, based on images of a mother, her daughter and bunk beds!

Following the financial collapse of the United States Lines, the SS United States was withdrawn from service in a surprise announcement in 1969. All planned cruises were canceled, and the ship changed owners repeatedly for the next several decades. Every owner attempted to make the ship profitable, but she was aging and poorly maintained. In 1984, her interior furnishings were sold at auction, and the rest of her interiors were stripped to the bulkheads in 1994. In 1996, she was towed to Philadelphia, where she would remained.

Since 2009, the ‘SS United States Conservancy’ has been raising funds in an attempt to save the ship from being scrapped. The group purchased her in 2011 and has created several unrealized plans to restore the ship. Due to a rent dispute, in 2024, the ship was evicted from her pier. Because no other locations for the ship could be found, America’s Flagship is on her way to Mobile, Alabama where she will be prepared as the World’s Largest Artificial Reef to be deployed off of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

The ‘SSUS’ journey to Mobile, Alabama, is expected to take about two weeks. Upon arrival, the vessel will continue its rebirth into an artificial reef as contractors remove hazardous material, including nonmetal parts and fuel to ensure this deployment is clean and not harmful to the environment it aims to benefit. Modifications will also be made to ensure that when the vessel is deployed, it will land upright underwater. The preparation process will take about 12 months.

The exact location along the Gulf Coast for the vessel’s deployment has not been set but it is expected to be about 20 nautical miles south of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area. As the World’s Largest Artificial Reef, the story of the ‘SSUS’ will be told to thousands of divers from around the world as they explore her unique design and features. She will also benefit her surrounding ecosystem and become home to countless marine species that will thrive from the presence of her structure.

Due to the size and the depth, this new artificial reef will provide bountiful fishing and diving opportunities for the local, visiting and charter industries. Okaloosa County will continue to partner with the SS United States Conservancy as it pivots to develop a land-based museum in Destin-Fort Walton Beach that will celebrate and commemorate the nation’s flagship. I will do another blog when she gets herself settled in her new home.

It might be time to learn how to dive?

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Update: When she left her berth on February 19, she made her way down the Delaware River into the Atlantic, and followed the coast somewhat, till she rounded the Florida Keys into the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, and looks for her to reach her destination in Mobile, sometime late today. Many were fortunate to see her travels when she was close enough to the shore line, and with the tugs far ahead by her pulling her along, she looked to be sailing once again. It is with great thanks to the SS United States Conservancy for all they did in keeping this ship in the hearts of so many, many people.

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