SS United States

Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., the SS United States was the largest passenger ship built in the United States. On 3 July 1952, on its New York-Southampton voyage, it won the Blue Riband by breaking by a wide margin the transatlantic speed record previously held by the Queen Mary, making the eastbound crossing at an average speed of 35.59 knots. It operated uninterrupted trans-Atlantic passenger service until 1969, when it was withdrawn from service while docked at Newport News for annual overhaul. It was subsequently relocated to Norfolk, Virginia, and in 1978 was sold to private interests seeking to revitalize it as a time share cruise ship, but financing fell through and MARAD placed the ship for auction. The U.S. Navy considered using it as a troop ship or hospital ship to be called the USS United States, but that plan never materialized. In 1996, it was towed to Pier 84 in South Philadelphia. Its years were ’52 and 1952-69, its gross tonnage was 53,329, its size was 990 feet by 101 feet, its propulsion was quadruple screw turbines, and its cruising speed was 33 knots.

New York, New York · United States