The preservation group that seeks to preserve and restore the SS United States is running out of money again. It's a sad story that has gotten sadder over the years, and there seems to be no happy ending in sight.
The SS United States Conservancy, appropriately headed by the granddaughter of William Francis Gibbs, the ship's legendary designer, hopes to convert the liner into a stationary attraction and museum, but this is a risky business, and investors are understandably wary.
The conservancy, which owns the ship, has put out another desperate appeal for donations, claiming that without another influx of funds, the ship is but a few months from the scrap yard.
It is said to cost $80,000 a month to keep it afloat and secure at a Delaware River dock in Philadelphia, where it has been at rest since 1996.
An engineering marvel (44 mph!), the Big U had a brilliant 17-year career between 1952 and 1969, when it ceased to be profitable. It has been a wasting asset ever since. During the ensuing 44 years nobody has figured out how make it profitable as a going concern.
The ship and its fans have been ill-served by a long series of bad decisions and good ideas gone bad.
We hold out hope, but it's getting harder to do.