April 15, 2003
Once the fastest ocean liner in the world, the United States has sat rusting at port in Philadelphia in recent years. But now, the once-proud ship has been bought by Norwegian Cruise Lines and will be outfitted as a cruise ship registered under the U.S. flag, staffed by an American crew and running at least some of its cruises solely between U.S. ports.
It will be the first cruise ship registered in the United States for at least 50 years. Virtually all cruise ships are registered in Panama, Liberia or other nations with highly favorable shipping regulations. However, to sail between American ports, a ship must be registered in the U.S.
"The Big U," as she is known to her fans, sailed out of New York on its maiden voyage on July 3, 1952, and set a trans-Atlantic speed record of 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes. Its average speed is about 40 miles an hour and it is 990 feet in length, 110 feet longer than the Titanic, boasting 17 decks.
Originally built to cut through the high waves of the North Atlantic, the ship is long and narrow, making it difficult to outfit as a cruise vessel.
Norwegian has further designs on American-flagged vessels. It has won federal approval to buy the assets of a bankrupt shipbuilding program, Project America, building two American-registered ships in Mississippi. Norwegian has also bought the Independence, another old ocean liner. It will be retrofitted as a cruise ship before the United States.
