SS United States Conservancy Files Motion Asking U.S. District Court to Amend its Order and Extend the Deadline to Remove the Ship until December 5, 2024
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) – As the SS United States Conservancy continues to explore all avenues to relocate America’s Flagship, the national nonprofit organization that owns and cares for the iconic symbol of the nation has filed a motion with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania requesting a short extension of the deadline to move the vessel from September 12, 2024 until December 5, 2024. The Conservancy’s motion comes as the organization continues to aggressively explore potential temporary and permanent berths in the Philadelphia area and other port cities along the East Coast and prepare the ship to leave its current pier safely.
Earlier this summer, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Anita Brody ruled that the SS United States’ landlord, Penn Warehousing, could not double dockage fees without notice in its effort to force America’s Flagship from Pier 82 in Philadelphia. However, the Court also directed the Conservancy to remove the irreplaceable national symbol from Pier 82 in Philadelphia by September 12, 2024.
“America’s Flagship is in a race against time. While we are doing everything possible to meet the court’s deadline, some factors are beyond the Conservancy’s control. We respect the court’s attempt to come to an equitable decision, and we appreciate how challenging it is to determine the fate of one of the nation’s most historic and iconic symbols. However, factors including this year’s intense Atlantic hurricane season forecast and the extensive technical preparations associated with the ship’s tow require some additional time to safely implement,” stated Conservancy President Susan Gibbs.
In the motion for partial reconsideration, the Conservancy stated, “The Court’s Order is grounded in sound judgment and equity. But the Court overlooked critical evidence in the record regarding the complex and time-consuming nature of moving the Ship and, as a result, issued a judgment with a removal window that is inequitably short…As documented during trial… there are numerous regulatory, environmental, logistical, and engineering challenges that must be overcome to safely (and legally) move a vessel as large as the SS United States that has not operated under her own power in decades…”
“As was affirmed in open court, the Conservancy has been a model tenant, always paying rent in a timely fashion and operating in good faith. We continue to meet our financial obligations to our landlord,” said Conservancy Board member Warren Jones, a former SS United States passenger who is spearheading the search for a temporary dock. “Relocating a 990-foot-long ocean liner is complex and costly. We are simply asking for a reasonable extension to ensure the Conservancy can investigate all suitable and available locations and prepare the ship for a move, before being compelled to reef or scrap the historic vessel, an outcome supporters across the nation and around the world have worked hard to avoid.”
“The Conservancy has been actively exploring potential temporary docks in the Philadelphia area and along the East Coast. We have also been engaging in targeted outreach to federal and state officials, regional port authorities, maritime associations, and the U.S. Navy for help in identifying suitable and available berths. Those conversations are ongoing and continue to be productive,” Jones added.
Following the Court’s ruling last month, the Conservancy launched an urgent campaign to help save America’s Flagship and celebrate her historic legacy. To date that effort has already raised more than $100,000 to cover urgent expenses. Supporters can learn more and donate to the campaign at www.SaveTheUnitedStates.org.
“The SS United States is a unique historic achievement, and she continues to serve as a unifying and inspiring force at a time of political division and uncertainty. We remain deeply grateful for our global community of supporters who are helping us meet this monumental challenge of securing a safe harbor for America’s Flagship,” Gibbs added.
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