STATEMENT FROM THE SS UNITED STATES CONSERVANCY
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) – The national nonprofit SS United States Conservancy and Penn Warehousing & Distribution, the operators of the Philadelphia pier where the SS United States has been docked since 1996, have settled their longstanding dispute over the terms of the ship’s dockage at Pier 82.
The settlement was the result of a court-ordered mediation following litigation between the parties that resulted in a finding by the court that Penn Warehousing was not entitled to its claims for doubled rent, but that the storied ocean liner would need to vacate her pier in short order. The settlement included a contract between the Conservancy and Okaloosa County, Florida, which plans to repurpose the SS United States as the world’s largest artificial reef.
In response to the settlement agreement, SS United States Conservancy President Susan Gibbs, granddaughter of the ship’s famed designer, released the following statement on behalf of the organization’s Board of Directors:
“In the long and storied history of America’s Flagship, these last two years of this unfortunate litigation have perhaps been the most difficult, and the conflict at the pier has drastically impacted our plans for the ship’s long-term future.
“Because of the court proceeding, we had a very limited time to find a new home for the SS United States. Despite intensive outreach to private pier owners, government agencies, elected officials, and public authorities at the local, state and federal levels - an effort that began well before Penn Warehousing sued the Conservancy in early 2022 - no suitable and available location was secured within the mandated schedule. While we have vetted various entities with proposals to purchase and relocate the ship, none satisfied our minimum due diligence or proved viable within our current timetable and logistical constraints.
“Last year, we unveiled a full redevelopment plan for the SS United States that would have transformed her into a privately funded, permanently-moored, mixed-use destination and economic engine. After five years of intensive planning and investment, we demonstrated with our development partners that the ship could create thousands of jobs and generate millions in economic revenue. But the difficulty of securing the planned pier location and the unwillingness of government entities to prioritize the project prevented the exciting plan from being launched.
“Unable to save the SS United States in her current state and under a binding court order, we faced the painful but unavoidable choice between scrapping America’s Flagship or converting her into an artificial reef in tandem with a land-based museum. We chose the latter as the most dignified path.
“We understand that this decision is deeply challenging and emotional for our community of supporters, as it was for our Board of Directors, many of whom have been working to save and redevelop the ship for over a decade. We are profoundly grateful for the support we have received from across the country and around the world.
“While this is not the outcome we originally envisioned, the ship will have a future. This next chapter of the SS United States’ story will bring tens of thousands of people annually from around the world to experience her. Okaloosa County has now allocated more than $10 million to reactivate the SS United States as the world’s largest artificial reef in tandem with the Conservancy’s land-based museum and visitor center. Once the ship is deployed, more people will be able to visit and learn about her in the space of one year than have had that opportunity since she left seagoing service more than a half century ago.
“When we saved the SS United States from the scrapyard in 2011, the ship had been largely forgotten. With help from our supporters worldwide, we have brought the ship back into the public consciousness. She has again become a soaring symbol of her namesake nation. As our challenges mounted at the ship’s Philadelphia pier, we were determined to prevent her from being lost to history.
“We are committed to developing a state-of-the-art museum that will blend the latest technology with our expansive collections of original artifacts and artwork from the ship. These plans include incorporating one or both of her iconic funnels, radar mast, and detailed recreations of spaces using original materials. We are particularly excited about inviting Conservancy supporters to contribute ideas for the museum’s creation and its revolving exhibits. More announcements will follow in the weeks and months ahead.
“After the Conservancy formally transfers title to the ship to Okaloosa County, in accordance with our contract and in compliance with the court ruling, the vessel will soon depart Philadelphia for Norfolk, where she will undergo extensive preparations for reefing over many months.
“Together, we will see the extraordinary story of the SS United States, and her inspiring spirit, continue to endure — above and below the waterline.”
###