Columbia Police Identify Victim Found Shot Inside Vehicle

Philadelphia police search for suspects involved in burglary aboard historic ship SS United States on Pier 82. The incident occurred in the early hours of October 2, 2024around 1:40 a.m. According to surveillance footage, the suspects were seen accessing the vessel at 2205, boulevard S. Christophe Colomb without authorization.

The suspects spent approximately three hours inside the vessel before they were recorded leaving with several stolen items. Authorities have not yet released further details about what was captured, but they are urging anyone with information to come forward.

The SS United States, once the world’s fastest ocean liner, has been docked in Philadelphia for decades and is a National Historic Landmark. The burglary at such a major site adds a layer of urgency to the investigation.

If you have any tips, contact the Philadelphia Police Department’s 3rd District or submit an anonymous tip online.

SS United States: rise and fall of a record liner

Once the pride of American maritime engineering, the SS United States attracted worldwide attention during its maiden voyage July 3–7, 1952. The elegant liner broke the eastbound transatlantic speed record, covering the distance from New York Harbor to Bishop Rock, offshore from Cornwall, UK in 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes. With an average speed of 35.59 knots (65.91 km/h; 40.96 mph), it surpassed the record held by the British liner. RMS Queen Mary of more than 10 hours over the previous 14 years, earning her the coveted blue ribbon for the fastest Atlantic crossing.

On his return trip to New York, UNITED STATES also broke the westbound transatlantic speed record, completing the journey in 3 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes, at an average speed of 34.51 knots (63.91 km/h; 39.71 mph). This double triumph was celebrated upon her arrival in New York, where a flotilla of boats, helicopters and thousands of onlookers welcomed her. The ship’s owners received the Hales Trophy, a symbol of Blue Riband’s success.

THE UNITED STATESSuccess was carefully managed. William Francis Gibbs, the ship’s designer, instructed the crew not to push the ship to its maximum speed during the maiden voyage, breaking the record for a “reasonable amount” of speed to make way for an even faster future record. Concerns about safety have also played a role in slowing down the ship’s true capabilities, with operators learning lessons from past maritime disasters, such as the sinking of the ship. Titanic.

Peak of popularity and prestige

Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, SS United States became the dominant transatlantic liner, offering luxury and speed on regular voyages between New York, Southampton and Le Havre, with occasional calls at Bremerhaven. Its passenger list included celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Duke Ellington. Walt Disney even featured the ship in his 1962 film. Have a good trip !.

UNITED STATES Lines, the ship’s operator, hoped to capitalize on this success by adding a “traveling companion” liner to its fleet. However, the construction project SS President Washington failed due to lack of government funding. Despite the ship’s fame and profitability, the rapid rise of air travel, particularly jet aircraft, began to erode the dominance of ocean liners. In 1957, more passengers crossed the Atlantic by air than by sea.

Decline amid changing times

As passenger numbers declined, SS United States faced increasing challenges in the 1960s. Strikes by unions such as the Captains, Mates and Pilots Union disrupted voyages, damaging the ship’s reputation. The U.S. government’s decision to stop using ocean liners to transport military personnel and their families in 1961 was a major blow, with air travel seen as a safer and faster option.

In an effort to remain competitive, UNITED STATES Lines explored in conversion UNITED STATES on a cruise ship, offering trips to the Caribbean during the winter months. However, the company’s financial situation prevented significant renovations and the ship struggled to compete with newer, more modern liners like SSFrance. In the late 1960s, the SS United States operated at a loss.

In 1969, after completing her 400th voyage, the ship was laid up in Newport News, Virginia, and decommissioned. The unexpected abandonment of the ship came as a shock to passengers and crew. All of the ship’s furniture was left in place and its chimneys were only half-painted before work suddenly stopped.

An uncertain future

In the years following his retirement, various projects aimed at reorienting the SS United States were proposed but ultimately failed. In the 1970s, the US Navy considered converting the ship into a hospital ship, but the project was deemed too costly. In the 1980s, the ship was sold to a developer who planned to turn it into a floating condominium, but the venture collapsed. The interior of the ship was dismantled during asbestos removal in the 1990s, leaving it with only a hollow hull.

Despite several attempts to save it, including preservation efforts by the SS United States Conservancy, the ship remains abandoned in Philadelphia, deteriorating after years of neglect. It continues to be a symbol of America’s maritime past, and many hope for its restoration and eventual revival.