Historic, rusting ocean liner could be restored to luxury

The SS United States, a sea liner greater than the Titanic that once conveyed superstars over the Atlantic at record velocities, might one day cruise once more. Crystal Cruises travel organization declared on Thursday the arrangements to redesign the boat at an expense of $700 million. The enormous steamship has been docked in Philadelphia for 20 years, being forgotten and left to rot.

Yet, before it can be transformed into the best machine of its class of business vessel, the SS United States must experience a nine-month achievability study. In its superbness days in the 1950s, the boat conveyed everybody from eminence characters to outsiders over the Atlantic Ocean, joined by three on-board ensemblematic music bands. Then the SS was the greatest and quickest sea liner that had ever been designed in the United States — at 990 feet, 108 feet longer than the Titanic.

On its first trip in 1952, the liner's 268,000-horsepower motors walked it over the Atlantic in three days, 10 hours, 42 minutes. That record remained unbeated until 1990. The boat was abandoned in 1969.

The SS United States is currently possessed by a preservation specialist crew, with a buy alternative marked by Crystal Cruises. This is not the first run through as  arrangements have been in progress for restoration. In 2003, the Norwegian Cruise Lines said it arranged an update that did not materialize.