Fate of S.S. United States to be decided next week

The conservancy that owns the S.S. United States, and which set a save-it-or-scrap-it deadline of Saturday, expects to meet early next week to decide the future of the fabled ocean liner.

The agency's board plans to gather Monday or Tuesday and make an announcement soon afterward, a spokesperson said Thursday.

The group says the $60,000-a-month cost of caring for the vessel, which rusts at a South Philadelphia dock, has become unsustainable. It has hoped that last-minute donations or a buyer might keep the ship from destruction. - Jeff Gammage