The SS United States Conservancy will purchase the United States ocean liner from Norwegian Cruise Line/Genting Hong Kong, thanks to a $5.8 million donation from a Philadelphia philanthropist H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest.
The conservancy said the funds would be used to purchase the vessel and maintain it in its current berth in Philadelphia for up to 20 months while redevelopment plans are solidified.
The United States was docked in Philadelphia in 1996 and has been there ever since.
NCL purchased the vessel in 2003, intending to operate it as part of NCL America, the line's U.S.-flagged fleet operating in Hawaii. However, NCL's U.S.-flagged operations did not grow as planned. Today, NCL has one U.S.-flagged ship, the Pride of America.
NCL has worked with the conservancy to find a U.S. entity to buy the ship. The conservancy said that NCL has turned down higher offers for the ship in order to partner with the conservancy to buy it. But the cost to keep the ship docked in Philadelphia has been high, and earlier this year NCL began accepting bids from scrappers.
"We are thrilled that the SS United States has received a new lease on life," said Susan Gibbs, the conservancy's board president and granddaughter of the vessel’s designer, William Francis Gibbs. "This is a game-changer in our work to save this irreplaceable American icon."
The United States still holds the "Blue Riband" record for fastest transatlantic speed, set 58 years ago on its maiden voyage from New York to England.
The conservancy hopes to establish a public-private partnership to own and operate the ship as a multi-purpose, stationary waterfront attraction in a city like New York or Phildelphia.
"We are putting together plans for a self-sustaining, mixed-use complex with restaurant, retail, entertainment and museum offerings," said Gibbs. "She has the potential to be a dazzling and dynamic waterfront attraction.
"The SS United States was an American original, and we’ll pay tribute to the ship’s extraordinary history as we redevelop her for a new era."
