Preservation group gets title for SS United States

After 15 years of indignities and neglect, the SS United States has a new lease on life.

Ownership of the once-luxurious passenger liner, berthed in South Philadelphia for nearly 15 years, passed this morning to a group dedicated to its preservation and rebirth an entertainment complex.

"We own it as of three minutes ago," said Dan McSweeney, president of the SS United States Conservancy, shortly after 11 a.m.

A news conference and ceremonial signing is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Ikea on Columbus Boulevard, across from the liner's berth at Pier 82.

Launched during the Korean War, the SS United States provided uninterrupted service for 17 years. With the advent of jet travel to Europe, the ship's fortunes rapidly declined. It was retired in 1969 and changed owners several times. In 1992, it was towed to Turkey, then to Ukraine. It arrived in South Philadelphia in 1996.

During its last journeys, the revolving cast of owners sold off the furniture and stripped it of its fittings.

As it has rusted away on the Delaware River, the ship narrowly avoided the scrap yard.

In 2009, the Norwegian Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Genting Hong Kong, put the United States up for bid.

The conservancy was given the first chance to buy it, but didn't have the minimum $20 million to complete the deal. With berthing fees running $700,000 a year, NCL decided to cut its losses. The price reportedly dropped to $1.5 million and attracted the attention of ship breakers intent on tearing it apart for scrap.

In July, philanthropist H.F. Gerry Lenfest pledged $5.8 million to buy and maintain the vessel for 20 months. NCL reportedly declined a bid twice as high from a vessel scrapper in order to support the Conservancy's efforts, a spokeswoman for the group said.

McSweeney said investors in Miami and New York City have expressed interest in providing the ship a new home.

"We're going to keep it berthed in South Philadelphia as we repurpose it," McSweeney said. "As we look at our options we expect the ship will stay here."

The total cost of refurbishing the ship could reach hundred million dollars, McSweeney said.

A few faded ocean liners have been transformed successfully into tourist destinations.

The RMS Queen Mary was sold in 1967 and subsequently opened in Long Beach, Calif., as a floating hotel featuring several restaurants and historic attractions.

The SS Rotterdam, launched in 1958, was restored and opened as a hotel and museum last year in the Netherlands.

A plan to repurpose the Queen Elizabeth II into a luxury hotel in Dubai is pending.