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Titanic vs. SS United States: Tragedy and Achievement

Published Apr 12, 2012 4:35 PM by The Maritime Executive

New Web Feature Compares Titanic to America's Greatest Ocean Liner

As part of its year-long effort to mark the 60th anniversary SS United States’ historic maiden voyage and raise awareness about the greatest American liner ever built, the SS United States Conservancy (Conservancy) has launched a new web feature comparing the TITANIC and SS UNITED STATES.  Visitors to the site can see the two ships through a side by side comparison of their dimensions, speed, weight, and safety features.

100 years ago this week, the RMS Titanic left Southampton, England and sailed into history.  Today, the vessel is synonymous with mystery, human tragedy, and engineering failures.  In contrast, the SS United States, America's flagship from the era of the great trans-Atlantic liners, is still afloat today and symbolizes speed, power and a bygone era of sea travel in grand style.

The new section of the Conservancy's site is a simple way to educate history buffs, Titanic enthusiasts and a whole new generation about the American liner that was larger and faster than Titanic and still holds the trans-Atlantic speed record.  In fact, the United States was not only the safest ship ever built, she could travel faster in reverse than the Titanic could go forward.

“The SS United States is the greatest ship that never sank. In her day, the ship was a symbol of American might as well as post-war pride and technological innovation,” states Susan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Conservancy and granddaughter of the SS United States’ designer, William Francis Gibbs.  “It is our hope that the fanfare surrounding Titanic will make more people appreciate this proud American icon.  The Titanic is resting at the bottom of the ocean, but we still have a chance to save the SS United States.”

The Conservancy, which purchased the 990-foot-long ship last year, is currently raising funds to care for the historic vessel, begin the restoration process and develop portions of her more than 650,000 square feet of interior space into a museum.  The group is also engaged in a process to contract with a developer to turn the United States into a stationary, mixed-use destination in a major American port.  The United States is currently laid up in Philadelphia.

To learn more about the SS United States, visit www.SSUSC.org.