Posted Feb. 10, 2011Instead of continuing to inspire inquiries on its presence, the SS United States soon may sate locals’ desires for a more enviable Delaware River waterfront.
Members of the SS United States Conservancy, the lifeline group for the 59-year-old vessel, announced their acquisition of the ship Feb. 1. The revelation occurred at IKEA, 2206 S. Columbus Blvd., and included two opportunities to board the historic 990-foot craft at its Pier 82 location.
The conservancy’s Board President Susan Gibbs and her allies will now seek the best possible new identity for the creation of her naval architect and marine engineer grandfather, the late William Francis Gibbs. Purchasing the ship from Norwegian Cruise Line/Genting Hong Kong, who had owned it since 2003, the conservancy amplifies its efforts to develop \”dynamic amenities\” to preserve the ship’s \”heart and soul,\” Gibbs said.
The $3-million acquisition caps a frantic two-year sale period and initiates a 20-month stretch during which the conservancy will court contributions through a $1 million fundraising campaign.
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