Dear SSUS Supporters: Let me start by saying that I am angry. I am furious. But not at those who have had the best interests of the Big U at heart. I do, however, vehemently disagree with and fault the approach of other organizations who over the past six years misguidedly worked with NCL in the hopes that they would restore the Big U. I feel their energy was wasted on gatherings and documentaries. Their motives were noble but they have failed. So now the Foundation is back with a vengeance—but a positive vengeance to be sure. Yes, these six years have cost us enormously and the setback can’t be so easily undone.  Face it:  those of us who bought into NCL’s vision for the Big U have been taken. Get angry. Get real mad. Maybe that anger can be turned into what needs to happen now and it’s not continuing to “work” with NCL in anyway other then forcing them, demanding that they go to Congress and work for a proper restoration for the SS United States.  We are talking about a foreign owned corporation that has been given an exemption from the Jones Act to cruise the Hawaiian waters from port-to-port affording NCL a privilege accorded only to American owned maritime companies under the Jones Act.

 

It is my strong belief, and that of many others, that working out a deal in Congress to save the SS United States is the least NCL can do after floating the hopes of so many for so long. The good people of the SSUS Conservancy, the one organization of Big U supporters who has worked closely with NCL over the past six years, needs to demand that NCL do something in Congress. They have the contacts, they have the phone numbers and email address. NCL needs to be the organization doing SOMETHING to Save the United States!

 

Robert Hudson Westover

Chairman,

SS United States Foundation

 

BTW: Keep your eyes and ears open. Many feel that when the lowest tide of the year approaches this is when the United States will be towed away because her height keeps her from going under the Walt Whitman Bridge.

New Press!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out the latest media being generated for the cause (it’s not much—considering the urgency—but we’re building momentum):

 

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/?inc=article&id=1140&x=ship-overboard&_c=news

(Oh, and for the record, in the PW article, I never called NCL “evil” that was a misquote.)

 

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/queen-atlantic-ocean-2308100-mary-crossing

 

http://www.charleston.net/news/2009/feb/18/ship_lovers_fear_fabled_liner_lost72017

 

http://www.origin.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/4263478.html