One huge ship
The once-proud SS United States sits quietly at its berth on South Columbus Boulevard, seemingly deteriorating in front of our very eyes.
Photo by Jim Murphy, author of Real Philly History, Real Fast.
If you’re driving down Columbus Boulevard south of center city, don’t be surprised if a gigantic ship suddenly looms up in front of you. It’s the SS United States, a luxury liner built 1950-51 and reportedly the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction.
Since 1996, the ship, cared for by a non-profit organization, has been berthed at Pier 82. No one seems to know what to do with it. But, because of a current rent dispute, what happens next may be up to the courts. The per-day maintenance cost jumped from $850 to $1700 in August 2021 and back rent now exceeds $160,000, says the Inquirer. By March of 2024, the fees reportedly exceeded $730,000. If the ship is evicted, it probably will be scrapped. The ship’s fate now lies in the hands of a federal court. As of May 26, 2024, I have not seen a decision. We’ll see what happens.
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/ss-united-states-conservancy-south-philadelphia-penn-warehousing-ocean-liner-facing-eviction/