October/November 2015 Digital Edition
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America’s Flagship, The SS United States, may<br />
only have weeks left afloat<br />
NeW YOrK, NY…<strong>October</strong> 07,<br />
<strong>2015</strong>— The board of Directors of<br />
the SS United States conservancy<br />
released the following statement<br />
today announcing that despite<br />
considerable progress toward finding<br />
a permanent home and viable<br />
redevelopment plan for america’s<br />
Flagship, the organization will be<br />
forced to sell the historic vessel to<br />
a responsible metals recycler by the<br />
end of <strong>October</strong> unless new donors<br />
or investors come forward.<br />
Th e SS United States is the largest<br />
and most advanced ocean liner<br />
ever built in her namesake nation.<br />
launched in 1952, the United States<br />
was developed as part of a top Secret<br />
cold War project to build the<br />
fastest ship in the world. She still<br />
holds the transatlantic speed record.<br />
The ship is an iconic symbol<br />
of america’s post-war power, pride<br />
and innovation. The statement appears<br />
below:<br />
“after much deliberation and<br />
consultation, the SS United States<br />
conservancy’s board of Directors<br />
has decided to retain a broker to explore<br />
the potential sale of america’s<br />
Flagship, the SS United States to a<br />
responsible, U.S.-based metals recycler.<br />
“We have achieved an extraordinary<br />
amount of progress in support<br />
of the SS United States’ potential<br />
redevelopment in recent months,<br />
including detailed plans, financial<br />
models, renderings, and engineering<br />
approaches with support from a<br />
number of major firms. in so many<br />
ways, we’ve never been closer to saving<br />
america’s Flagship, but we have<br />
Photo: Courtesy of Nick Landiak<br />
also never been closer to losing this<br />
irreplaceable piece of our history.<br />
“The conservancy has been very<br />
clear in its communications to its<br />
supporters and the media that the<br />
carrying costs for the vessel total<br />
more than $60,000 per month.<br />
While our fundraising efforts have<br />
enabled us to meet those continuing<br />
obligations to date, thanks to<br />
the steadfast support of donors<br />
from across the nation and around<br />
22<br />
the world, the financial burdens imposed<br />
by the ship’s ongoing expenses<br />
have become unsustainable.<br />
“The conservancy continues to<br />
do everything within its power to<br />
advance an outcome that protects<br />
the vessel, preserves her historical<br />
legacy, and secures a viable redevelopment<br />
program. as we have announced<br />
previously, redevelopment<br />
negotiations are ongoing. We have<br />
identified two potential locations<br />
that can accommodate the ship, and<br />
we are continuing complex talks<br />
with various entities regarding these<br />
sites. These ongoing discussions<br />
remain subject to confidentiality<br />
agreements signed by both parties.<br />
“Despite this progress in our redevelopment<br />
negotiations, the tim-
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