A crystal clear vision to save the SS United States just might see "America's Flagship" sailing back into New York harbor and beyond. Time Warner Cable News’ Valarie D’Elia filed the following report.
For longer than she sailed on her iconic trans-Atlantic voyages from New York's Pier 86, the SS United States has been rusting away in Philadelphia in the hands of a tenacious conservancy group, persistently publicizing her plight in a valiant effort to save her from the scrapyard. Various options materialized, one of them possibly keeping her afloat as a stationary tourist attraction in Brooklyn. Then came an announcement in New York recently that radically turned the tide for the beloved vessel.
"I am incredibly proud and deeply honored to announce that the SS United States Conservancy has entered into a formal option agreement with Crystal Cruises with the goal of returning America's Flagship back to seagoing service,” says Susan Gibbs of SSUS Conservancy.
Whoa! Hold your shuffleboard cue.
"It's amazing,” SSUS Caretaker Ray Griffiths say. “I don't know what else to say. You walk through the ship and you never thought to see her sail again."
The proposed $800 million dollar deal to convert the ship into a globetrotting luxury liner based in New York, comes with a considerable contingency: Crystal will pay 9 months’ worth of docking fees to keep the "Big U" tied up in Philadelphia while it commissions a feasibility study.
"Because there are environmental issues and they need to be addressed," says Edie Rodriguez, President and CEO of Crystal Cruises.
Should the ship pass an EPA muster, we will likely see a maritime miracle on the Hudson.
"It's our great hope to have her sailing with guests onboard sometime in 2018,” Rodriguez says.