Dear Friend of the SS United States:
As the SS United States marks her 53rd birthday, the SS United States Conservancy is pleased to bring you this latest update on its many recent activities. In this edition:
--2006 SS United States Conservancy Calendar Deadline Nears
--Conservancy Featured on WOR Radio
--Pride of America Christening / SS America Library
--Conservancy Debuts at NYC Ocean Liner Bazaar
--Maritime Industry Museum Event a Success
--South Street Seaport's "Legend of the SSUS" Program Wows Crowd
Calendar Deadline Nears
Please take this last opportunity to preorder the Conservancy's highly anticipated 2006 SS United States calendar for the special low price of $14.95. The calendar will contain never-before-published vintage images of the ship as well as detailed portraits of special crewmembers and passengers. To order, call Turner Publishing at 1-800-788-3350 or visit their website.
Conservancy Featured on WOR Radio!
SS United States Conservancy Board members Greg Norris and Susan Gibbs were featured on Valarie D'Elia's "Travel Show" on the WOR Radio Network in New York on Sunday, July 3. Greg and Susan fielded calls from listeners and provided updates on the SS United States' rehabilitation and also highlighted the ship's storied history.
Pride of America Christening and SS America Library Dedication
The Pride of America, the newest addition to the NCL America fleet and the largest US-flagged passenger ship introduced since the debut of the SS United States in 1952, was christened in New York City on Friday, June 17. The Board of the SS United States Conservancy was honored to be included among the invited VIPs to mark the occasion. The Conservancy organized the formal dedication ceremony for the ship's beautiful library which was designed in tribute to the SS United States' sister ship, the SS America. The Conservancy collaborated with maritime historian Bill Lee, who advised NCL on the library's many historical displays, including the installation of a detailed four-foot model of the liner specially constructed by Maritime Replicas of Florida. Many former crewmembers, passengers and others with ties to the SS America gathered to celebrate one of the nation's most significant liners and we hope that this elegant library will provide a quiet haven for cruise guests to learn about the SS America and the SS United States. NCL President Colin Veitch, NCL fleet architect Trevor Young, and the Captain of the Pride of America were all on hand for the occasion as Susan Gibbs unveiled the SS America model following a moving tribute to the many accomplishments of her grandfather, William Francis Gibbs. Later in the afternoon, the ship itself was formally christened by United States Secretary of Labor, the Honorable Elaine L. Chao. Invited guests watched as the traditional bottle of champagne was (successfully!) broken against the gleaming white hull, and a parade of the ship's all-American crew followed accompanied by patriotic American music. For the complete text of Secretary Chao's dedication remarks, please look here.
Also, for those interested in NCL's ongoing commitment to the SS United States, NCL President Colin Veitch makes the following comments in an interview featured in the August edition of Cruise Travel Magazine:
"Once we have three ships [in the Project America fleet], we can have a look at other opportunities to grow the brand. The big one we have in mind is to rebuild the SS United States. If and when we can rebuild her, she would not be confined to any geographic area. That would be a far-ranging ship. We're in the midst of a technical evaluation to see what we could do with her. She was built in the 1950s, and there are lots of new rules, and we are doing a feasibility study on two grounds: What condition is she in, which appears to be rather good, and how can we meet today's construction rules and safety standards within the existing hull. We would not change the shape of the hull. We're talking about rebuilding the inside. As long as we can determine it's feasible, then we'll work up a complete plan and then take her up and down the coast, trans-Atlantic, Europe, around the world -
wherever we can generate demand. This would be a one-off product, and I think people would sail on the ship wherever we would go."
SS United States Conservancy Debuts at Ocean Liner Bazaar
The SS United States Conservancy was pleased to participate in the Port of New York Branch of the World Ship Society's annual Ocean Liner Bazaar in New York City on June 18. Conservancy Board members Susan Gibbs, Greg Norris, Mark Perry, Richard Rabbett, Dan McSweeney and John Milligan gathered to share updates on the SS United States and sell T-shirts, mouse pads, mugs and other dazzling SS United States merchandise. To view our full catalog of SS United States merchandise, visit our slop chest. . James Ducker's SS United States
Conservancy and ocean liner lapel pins were also a big hit. For ordering information see his website.
Maritime Industry Museum Gala a Success!
The SS United States Conservancy teamed up with the Maritime Industry Museum at Fort Schuyler and celebrated the SS United States on June 4th. Conservancy President Susan Gibbs and naval architect Barry Thomas delivered keynote addresses to a crowd of almost 150. Following the presentations, the Museum hosted a festive reception and unveiled a new display case dedicated to the late United States Lines' Commodore John Anderson. In attendance were Commodore Anderson's wife Mary, his son Charles, daughter-in-law Debra and grandson Chris. All three of the Commodores who served on the SS United States (Manning, Anderson & Alexanderson) were Fort Schuyler graduates, and the Museum houses a very special collection of maritime and SS United States-related memorabilia. For more information about the Museum, see their website.
South Street Seaport Museum joins Conservancy in presenting "Legend of the SS United States"
The SS United States Conservancy joined the South Street Seaport Museum in presenting a program entitled "Legend of the SS United States" to standing room only crowd on May 5th. Emcee and maritime historian Bill Miller provided an informative slide show on the history of the SS United States and then turned the spotlight on a panel of three former Big U crewmembers: Joe Rota, Ray Kane and Jim Green, who regaled the gathering of nearly 100 people with tales of life at sea on the world's fastest and safest ocean liner. Der Scutt, Chairman of the Ocean Liner Council, and Bill Miller plan to publish a selection of these stories about life on board the SS United States in a forthcoming issue of the "Ocean Times", so stay tuned! A big thank you to Carl Weber, the Conservancy's Director of Outreach for the NYC area, for his hard work in coordinating the Conservancy's participation in this highly successful event!
The Conservancy thanks the many individuals who have contributed to making its inaugural year a resounding success. Please visit our website periodically for the latest news on the SS United States as well as news of upcoming SSUSC events. We greatly appreciate your continued interest in and support of the SS United States and the SS United States Conservancy!
With our best regards,
SS United States Conservancy Executive Board
Bill DiBenedetto
Raleigh, NC
Susan Gibbs
Washington, DC
Greg Norris
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Richard Rabbett
Boston, MA
Mark Perry
Los Angeles, CA
Dan McSweeney
New York, NY
Richard April
Bangor, ME
Jeff Henry
Philadelphia, PA
John Milligan
Houston, TX
