PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The conservancy that oversees a storied but aging ocean liner and its landlord have resolved a years-old rent dispute that will clear the way for a Florida county to turn the historic ship into the world’s largest artificial reef.
A federal judge had ruled in June that the SS United States Conservancy had until Sept. 12 to present plans to move the ship, a 1,000-foot ocean liner that still holds the transatlantic speed record it set more than 70 years ago. That deadline, though, came and went after the conservancy filed a lawsuit that accused Penn Warehousing of sabotaging its efforts to sell the vessel.
The conservancy had reached a tentative agreement earlier this month with Okaloosa County on Florida’s coastal Panhandle, a deal that was contingent upon the rent dispute being settled through court-imposed mediation. The deal resolving that dispute was announced Friday.
Conservancy and county officials gathered Saturday at the Philadelphia pier where the ship is berthed for a small transfer of title ceremony, although the deal with Okaloosa County still needs final approval from a federal judge, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Okaloosa officials plan to sink the ship and create what supporters hope will be a barnacle-encrusted star in the county’s constellation of more than 500 artificial reefs, making it a signature diving attraction that could generate millions of dollars a year in local tourism spending for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels.
“We can tell you that you will not be lost, you will not be forgotten, you will no longer be neglected and abused,” conservancy board member Thomas Watkins said in a farewell to the ship. “You will be rightly honored, cherished, and loved in a new home and in a new dimension. You will no longer be sailing the seas, but you will be surrounded and caressed by them.”
Officials have said the deal to buy the ship could cost more than $10 million. The lengthy process of cleaning, transporting and sinking the vessel is expected to take at least 1.5 years.
The rent dispute stemmed from an August 2021 decision by Penn Warehousing to double the ship’s daily dockage to $1,700, an increase the conservancy refused to accept. The firm had said through its attorneys that it wants to regain access to the berth so it can replace the ship with a commercial customer that will provide jobs and tax revenues to the city.
When the conservancy continued to pay its previous rate, set in 2011, Penn Warehousing terminated the lease in March 2022. After much legal wrangling, U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody held a bench trial in January but also encouraged the two sides to reach a settlement instead of leaving it up to her.
She ultimately ruled that the conservancy’s failure to pay the new rate did not amount to a contract breach or entitle Penn Warehousing to damages. However, she found that under Pennsylvania contract law, the berthing agreement is terminable at will with reasonable notice.
Christened in 1952, the SS United States was once considered a beacon of American engineering, doubling as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops. On its maiden voyage in 1952, it shattered the transatlantic speed record in both directions, when it reached an average speed of 36 knots, or just over 41 mph (66 kph), The Associated Press reported from aboard the ship.
On that voyage, the ship crossed the Atlantic in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, besting the RMS Queen Mary’s time by 10 hours. To this day, the SS United States holds the transatlantic speed record for an ocean liner.
The SS United States became a reserve ship in 1969 and later bounced to various private owners who hoped to redevelop it. But they eventually found their plans to be too expensive or poorly timed, leaving the vessel looming for years on south Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront.
FILE - A person runs past the S.S. United States moored on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Mauricio Pochettino won his debut as U.S. coach, getting a 49th-minute goal from Yunus Musah off an assist from AC Milan teammate Christian Pulisic and a stoppage-time strike from Ricardo Pepi for a 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday night.
The match in front of a near-capacity crowd of 20,239 at Q2 Stadium was the first of two friendlies for the U.S. in a four-day span that includes a game against Mexico on Tuesday in Guadalajara. The Americans ended a four-game winless stretch and their first four-game home winless streak since a seven-game slide in 2010-11.
A 52-year-old Argentine who managed Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, Pochettino was hired last month to replace Gregg Berhalter, who was fired in July after first-round elimination at the Copa America. Pochettino was given a contract through the 2026 World Cup that the U.S. will co-host and tasked with sparking a team that has not reached the World Cup quarterfinals since 2002
“Little by little building something. The objective is 2026," Pochettino said. “It's only the first step.”
Musah scored his first goal in 42 international appearances.
Antonee Robinson worked around defender Michael Murillo on a flank and centered to Pulisic, who exchanged passes with Brenden Aaronson and one-timed a cross. Musah beat defender César Blackman and redirected the ball with a right-foot volley past Orlando Mosquera from 4 yards for his first goal in 42 international appearances.
Pulisic played a match with his eighth U.S. coach, a record for an American player. The U.S. was missing injured regulars Sergiño Dest, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah and Folarin Balogun,
Three second-half subs combined for the second goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Malik Tillman brought down a kick from goalkeeper Matt Turner and passed to Haji Wright, who crossed. A Texas native, Pepi slid the ball through Mosquera’s legs for his 11th goal in 31 appearances — his fourth in three international games in Austin.
Turner. who played all four matches at the 2022 World Cup. made a double save in the 52nd minute, batting Puma Rodríguez’s shot with his left hand, then diving back in front to get his body in front of Yoel Bárcenas’ attempt off the rebound.
Panama’s José Fajardo put an open shot wide in the 87th minute.
Tim Ream captained the Americans one week after his 37th birthday and became the oldest U.S. field player since Preki Radosavljević in 2001. Forward Josh Sargent made his first start since the 2022 group-stage final against Iran.
Mexican referee Katia Garcia was believed to be the first woman to referee a U.S. men’s national team match.
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen, who hasn’t played for the U.S. since the last World Cup qualifiers in March 2022, did not dress because of what the U.S. Soccer Federation said was a minor injury. Defender Marlon Fossey, who did not train on the field in recent days, also didn’t dress.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
United States forward Brendon Aaronson, center front, is tackled by Panama midfielder Abidel Ayarza (5) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
United States forward Josh Sargent (24) collides with Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera (22) and defender Cesar Blackman (2) on a corner kick during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
United States forward Josh Sargent (24) goes down after a tackle by Panama defender Edgardo Farina (24) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
United States midfielder Yunus Musah, left, takes on Panama defender Austin Trusty (2) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino, front left, and first assistant coach Jesus Perez, right, stand for the national anthem before an international friendly soccer match against Panama, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
