Dear SS United States Supporter:

Given the recent media coverage and the rapidly approaching court-imposed pier deadline, we wanted to update you on recent developments and continue providing you with the latest information about our work to give our nation's flagship a future that preserves and celebrates her legacy.

PIER SEARCH UPDATE

Beginning well before the court's ruling, the Conservancy has been actively engaging in outreach to both public and private entities in our urgent search for a new temporary or permanent location for the SS United States. This search is ongoing, even as we explore responsible alternative arrangements for the ship as we approach the court's deadline. As you know, the ship is the largest passenger vessel built in her namesake nation at nearly 1000 feet long and a present draft of up to 28 feet. That means piers large enough to accommodate her are extremely limited. Nor is it possible to temporarily moor her at sea because she is lacking key equipment and such a plan would not be permitted by the Coast Guard.  

To aid in this effort, the Conservancy has reached out to political leaders at the local, state and federal levels, contacted regional port authorities, maritime associations, private pier owners, and the highest levels of U.S. Navy. After months of outreach, the Navy has responded definitively that it has no available piers due to an extreme shortage for existing vessels, made worse by deteriorating facilities that reduce the number even further. To date, our search has yielded no piers that are both suitable and available, although we're still assessing a few potential options among the list below. Here is a summary of all the cities where the Conservancy has conducted outreach listed in alphabetical order:

CONTINGENT CONTRACT WITH OKALOOSA COUNTY

As we have previously conveyed, because the Conservancy’s Board of Directors has been legally obligated to comply with a court order, we have been exploring various scenarios, including proposals to deploy the SS United States as an artificial reef paired with a land-based museum. To achieve compliance and advance this vision, we entered into a contingent contract with Okaloosa County, Florida. This proposal remains subject to various contingencies, including formal approval of the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners and a successful negotiation with the pier operator to extend the ship’s stay beyond September 12 while the complex logistics of moving and preparing the ship are worked out.

We value Okaloosa County's ongoing interest, their extensive experience in respectfully deploying artificial reefs, and their desire to preserve the SS United States’ extraordinary legacy through support of the Conservancy's future land-based museum.  While some media outlets published stories suggesting that such a deal has been finalized, that is not correct. Okaloosa is continuing its internal process and we will update you should they take the next step toward formal approval. 

As we have said previously, reefing, while not our preferred outcome, presents several advantages over scrapping the vessel. Deploying the ship as an artificial reef activates her economic and tourism potential, enhances marine habitat and ecosystems, and provides the Conservancy with the opportunity to create a multi-dimensional visitor experience that educates the public about America's Flagship and her legacy, incorporates iconic components from the ship, and offers public access to our archival and curatorial collections. 

OTHER ALTERNATIVE SCENARIOS

Since the contingent contract with Okaloosa was reported, there has been some conjecture online about alternative scenarios that might have been presented to the Conservancy, including the potential sale of the SS United States to private parties. The Conservancy believes it has an obligation to explore all such offers and perform rigorous financial due diligence. This includes ensuring that potential buyers have the financial wherewithal to advance plans for the vessel. That guards against her being acquired and then sold for scrap. To date, no such private purchase offer has withstood such scrutiny. 

While we have very little time at hand, the Conservancy's leadership and staff continue to work tirelessly to save this iconic symbol of our nation. We remain deeply grateful to you, our global community of supporters, for your steadfast commitment to the SS United States and her enduring and inspiring legacy. We will continue to keep you apprised of additional developments in the coming days as the court-ordered deadline approaches.