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Recognizing and honoring the history of the SS UNITED STATES and its importance to Philadelphia, maritime history and the country as a whole; appreciating the opportunity to use the ship's redevelopment as a catalyst for development on the banks of the Delaware River; acknowledging the negative impact that the ship's current condition has on current efforts to redevelop the waterfront; thanking the SS UNITED STATES Conservancy for its efforts to save the ship; and encouraging the ship's current owner, Genting Hong Kong Ltd. (formerly Star Cruises), to correct the current conditions.
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WHEREAS, The SS UNITED STATES was constructed at the Newport News Shipyards in Virginia and christened on June 23, 1951. The ship was built not only as a passenger ship to compete with the likes of the QUEEN MARY but also as troop ship under U.S. Navy specifications and was capable of transporting, at speeds upwards of 36 knots, 15,000 troops anywhere in the world; and
WHEREAS, The SS UNITED STATES was designed by William Francis Gibbs, born and raised in Philadelphia, who gained renown as the nation's foremost civilian and military ship designer during two world wars and the intervening years; and
WHEREAS, The steel for the SS UNITED STATES was supplied by the Lukens Steel Corporation, Coatesville, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, The SS UNITED STATES is 990 feet in length, 110 feet longer than the TITANIC; and
WHEREAS, On her maiden voyage on July 3, 1952, the SS UNITED STATES captured the transatlantic speed record from the QUEEN MARY, cruising at 36 knots and completing the crossing in 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes a record that still stands today; and
WHEREAS, Tens of thousands of people immigrating to the United States of America were transported by the SS UNITED STATES; and
WHEREAS, In addition to these immigrants, the SS UNITED STATES hosted world leaders, presidents, royalty, Hollywood stars and leaders of industry. Princess Grace and her husband P...
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