In the May 2011 issue of Professional Mariner, Ken Mandel penned an excellent article about the SS United States and her current situation.

The Conservancy launched a $1 million fund-raising campaign that focuses on preservation and the development of a maritime museum on board the vessel. It intends to preserve the remaining original features. Multiple owners had sold off furniture and stripped off fittings, so some iconic features must be recreated.

The article outlines the importance of the ship and the Conservancy's plan to save her. You can read the full article here.

New Jersey Lifestyle magazine recently ran a terrific story about the SS United States and the Conservancy in their Spring, 2011 issue. The article features interviews with Conservancy board president Susan Gibbs and board member Joe Rota, as well as stunning photographs of the ship taken by Greg Shutters.  

You can read the full article here.  (You will need to scroll to page 14 of the magazine issue.)

The Epoch Times recently posted an article detailing the history of the SS United States and the Conservancy's efforts on the ship's behalf.

It took 23,000 workers two years to build the SS United States at a shipyard at Newport News in Virginia. She was finally launched in 1952, making her maiden voyage from New York to Southampton on July 3 of that year. And she achieved what the Americans had long wanted to do - she broke by 10 hours the trans-Atlantic speed record that had been held for 14 years by Britain's Queen Mary, doing the crossing in 3 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes, at an average 35.59 knots.

You can read the full article here. 

Conservancy Welcomes Two New Members to  

Blue Riband Council 

Chaired by H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest, the Blue Riband Council consists of individuals, businesses, and organizations that have donated at least $10,000 worth of financial support and/or services to the SS United States Conservancy.  

The Conservancy would like to acknowledge two remarkable attorneys who have gone above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of the SS United States - if not for their dedication and diligence, the Conservancy would not have become the new stewards and owners of America's National Flagship.

Christopher L. Bell and Sidley Austin, LLP

Christopher L. Bell represents clients in civil and criminal litigation, investigations and compliance counseling regarding water, waste, air, chemicals (TSCA and FIFRA), and cleanup (CERCLA and RCRA) requirements. He advises clients on international issues, including climate change, product regulation and stewardship and supply chain management (e.g., the EU's REACH and CLP Regulations and ROHS and WEEE Directives), transnational movement of chemicals and waste, trade and the environment, and sustainable development. He also works on leading-edge issues such as the regulation of nanotechnology. He evaluates and implements compliance assurance and environmental management systems (e.g., ISO 14001) and conducts audits covering environmental, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and general corporate compliance and ethics programs.

 Mr. Bell is listed by Chambers USA's Leading Lawyers for Business, the PLC Cross-Border Handbook on "The Law and Leading Lawyers Worldwide" (environment), and the Legal 500 (litigation). Mr. Bell joined the firm after a two year clerkship with a federal judge. He has several years of manufacturing experience and was a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and a certified Manufacturing Technician.

Frank X. Nolan III and Vedder Price, PC

Francis X. Nolan, III, a shareholder at Vedder Price P.C., represents international and domestic lenders, borrowers, investors, lessees, lessors, operators and manufacturers, principally in the transportation and defense industries. He has extensive experience in the financing of a wide variety of transportation assets and projects, including vessels of every description, drill rigs, locomotives and rolling stock, containers and related equipment. Mr. Nolan has represented clients in financing transactions for vessels under U.S.-flag and numerous foreign flags, bareboat charter registries and under restricted flags, such as the U.S. Jones Act trades.  Mr. Nolan assists clients with a wide variety of leasing transactions, including operating leases and leveraged and synthetic leasing structures, as well as crossborder transactions.  He has published articles in the United States and abroad on a variety of subjects, including equipment leasing, secured transactions, marine finance, chartering, leasing, shipbuilding and the complex legal regimes affecting U.S. and foreign flag shipping and commerce.  He taught admiralty law for a number of years and has lectured frequently in the United States, Europe and Latin America on transportation finance and related subjects in programs sponsored by Euromoney, American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALIABA), the International Bar Association and the International Congress of Maritime Arbitrators.  He is Chair of the Marine Financing Committee of The Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA); a member of the MLA Board of Directors; and the principal draftsman of a working committee of the MLA that seeks to enhance collateral security positions of lessors in vessel charters used as financing instruments.  He has also been named to a Working Group of the Comit� Maritime International to consider the need for an international convention to facilitate international recognition of judicial vessel foreclosure sales.  Mr. Nolan was selected for inclusion from 2006 to 2010 in New York Super Lawyers.  He has also been named among The Best of the Best USA for several years running.  Mr. Nolan was named one of the top maritime finance lawyers in the United States by the Guide to the World's Leading Shipping & Maritime Lawyers (Euromoney Legal Media Group).  He has been similarly honored for the past several years.

To learn more about joining Mr. Lenfest and the Blue Riband Council, click here.  

Nicholas Starace's New Memoir, White Sails Became Me 

Former SS United States crewmember and SS United States Conservancy member and supporter Nicholas Starace has just released a powerful memoir entitled

White Sails Became Me: Memoirs of a Seafaring Heritage. 

"It is said that some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouths," says Starace.  "I was born with an anchor in mine."   With heart-wrenching honesty, Starace shares the tragedies that befell his family and how they survived by virture of a strong determination to fulfill their destinies in America. 

White Sails Became Me chronicles a life of adventure spent around ships, boats and the sea.  And while the book's central theme is nautical, it also explores travel, terrorism, family and military sagas, survival, cultural treasures, safari exploits, and tragedy.  Perhaps most importantly for SS United States Conservancy members and supporters, Starace recounts his experiences as an engineering officer aboard the SS United States after graduating from Kings Point in 1957.  He describes the pristine engine room as well as his interactions with celebrities such as Bob Hope and Rita Hayworth.  He also discusses the SS United States Conservancy's efforts as well as the documentary film SS United States: Lady in Waiting, to which he contributed an on-camera interview.

To learn more about White Sails Became Me, visit www.whitesailsbecameme.com  or contact the author at Nickstar2nd@aol.com.  The book can also be purchased on Amazon.com.

The Conservancy Thanks its New Institutional Supporters 

The SS United States Conservancy would like to thank the following institutions and businesses for their generous support of the organization's historic preservation and predevelopment planning campaign during the first quarter of 2011.

To make a tax-deductible donation in support of  the Conservancy's predevelopment and historic preservation efforts click here.  To inquire about scheduling a speaking event for your organization about the SS United States, please email info@ssunitedstatesconservancy.org or call 888-488-7787.

Together, we have a unique opportunity to change history and save the SS United States.  No contribution is too small. Let's work toward that day when all Americans will be able to walk her decks once again!

William Francis Gibbs Benefactors ($1,000-$9,999)

Atlantic Logistics
Philadelphia, PA

Bonnie Cashin Fund, The New York Community Trust
New York, NY

The Dean S. Edmonds Foundation
New York, NY

Wilmington Trust

Wilmington, DE 

Captain's Quarters Supporters ($500-$999)

CHK Electronics
Burlington, New Jersey

The Henry L. & Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Harrison, NY

The Freemasons of the Williamsons-Corinthian Lodge 368
Philadelphia, PA

Palmer Biezup & Henderson LLP
Philadelphia, PA

Big U Benefactors ($250-$499)

Tom Bush Regency Motors
Jacksonville, FL

Big U Associates ($100-$249)

The Friday Nighters Club of the First Presbyterian Church
Moorestown, NJ

Please visit our bookstore on Blurb.com	Please support our efforts to save the SS United States by visiting our store

SS United States Conservancy

P.O. Box 32115

Washington, DC 20007

(888)-488-7787