SS United States One Step Closer To Salvation

The SS Unites States Conservancy has announced that their deal to acquire the SS United States from Norwegian Cruise Line has been finalized and they are to take possession of the title to the once great ocean liner.  As reported back in July, the Conservancy agreed to purchase the ship with the help of a pledge from philanthropist and maritime enthusiast H.F. Gerry Lenfest in the amount of $5.8 million.  Thankfully, NCL turned down a much higher offer from a scrapyard interested in breaking up the ship.

The main delay in the ship changing hands had to do with the EPA's concerns about the handling of potential toxic materials contained in the ship.  That matter has apparently been resolved and the Conservancy is now looking for investors to help in the transformation of the ship into a hotel, retail, and museum attraction.  The work is expected to cost in the hundreds of millions of dollars but if it can be completed several cities including New York, Philadelphia, and Miami have already expressed interest in the ship.

Here is the complete statement from the SS United States Conservancy.

Conservancy purchases SS United States through grant from Lenfest Foundation