The Philadelphia Inquirer: After order to leave South Philly, the SS United States’ options include being sunk or sold for scrap

An SOS is ringing out from the SS United States in South Philadelphia, which needs to find a new home by September. And if its stewards don’t find a new berth for the vessel, the “Queen of the Seas” may ultimately head to the scrap pile.

A yearslong dispute between the SS United States Conservancy and its landlord at Pier 82 — where the ship has been posted since 1996 — ended June 14, with a federal judge giving the ship’s stewards 90 days to vacate the premises.

With the clock ticking, the conservancy launched an urgent fundraising campaign Thursday to raise half a million dollars that would help cover moving expenses. The 1,000-foot-long vessel is incapable of self-propulsion, so a move would require tug boats in addition to insurance and other dock preparations.

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