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Liner In Trouble – Trivia Contest April 12, 2013
Last week’s trivia question asked: What do Hopalong Cassidy, John Wayne, Judy Garland, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Marilyn Monroe and the Mona Lisa have in common?
The correct answer is that they all sailed on the SS United States. Congratulations to Mark Shapiro of Mission Viejo, CA whose name was randomly selected from the eight correct responses.
The SS United States
She was the fastest of her breed. More than 50 years after breaking the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, the SS United States still represents the epitome of speed at sea. She routinely “cruised” at 35 miles per hour. During her record shattering maiden voyage, she averaged 44 miles per hour, so fast that she shed the paint from her bow. The SS United State’s steam turbines produced twice as much power as the largest cruise ships of today despite being less than half the weight.
The SS United States – Then
A Philadelphia native, William Francis Gibbs, designed the ship to very high military standards (he also designed many ships of the US Navy in WW II). Subsidized by the US government, the SS United States could be converted to a 15,000 person troopship within 48 hours and was nearly used during the Cuban Missile Crisis. She plied the Atlantic for 17 years after her maiden trip in 1952 and never experienced a breakdown (listen up Carnival Cruise Line).
Now she is in trouble. During the last 17 years, this national treasure has been rusting away at a South Philadelphia pier waiting for a knight in shining armor to come to her rescue. Five years ago, philanthropist H. F. “Gerry” Lenfest gave the United States Conservancy more than 5 million dollars to purchase the ship and find a way of preserving her for future generations.
The SS United States – Now
Now the money is gone and, in a few weeks, this proud example of the genius of American engineering know-how will be become Toyotas and razor blades if she is not thrown a life ring.
Should the ship be saved? Should the government step in? We’d like to hear your views.