Project with an aim to restore the 1952 built former Trans-Atlantic liner SS United States has launched a campaign to raise $500,000 to prevent the ship from being sold for scrap.

 “If the SS United States Conservancy can’t secure $500,000 from new donors, corporate sponsors, and other supporters, America’s Flagship could be sold to scrappers within the next two months.  The Conservancy urgently needs the funds to keep the ship in the water while promising redevelopment and museum discussions and plans continue to advance. The ship’s monthly maintenance, security costs and operational expenses are upwards of $80,000,” the Conservancy said in a statement.

“This is a four-alarm historic preservation crisis,” said Susan Gibbs, the Conservancy’s executive director, in a statement.  “If this great American achievement is destroyed, we will lose an unparalleled opportunity to create jobs, honor our heritage, and celebrate technological innovation. With all the attention being given to plans for the Titanic II – a replica of an ocean liner famous for tragedy – we hope the American people and their political leaders will join us in saving the United States. Rather than build a reproduction of the Titanic in China, let’s repurpose the most famous ship that didn’t sink here at home before it’s too late.”

SS United States was built at Newport News in 1952 and on its first voyage in July of that year it captured the Blue Ribbon, title of the fastest liner in the Trans-Atlantic service, in both directions. The ship operated mainly on the Atlantic liner service, although it made some cruises too, until November 1969, when it was laid up. Several attempts emerged over the year to bring the ship back to service after refit and rebuilding, none of which materialised. The Conservancy aims to restore the ship and open it to the public as an attraction.