Update: SS United States Docking Dispute in Philadelphia Heads to Mediation

We recently posted about a tentative deal to sell the historic ocean liner SS United States to be sunk to create the world’s largest artificial reef, off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL in the Gulf of Mexico.  That deal is … Continue reading

Retired Passenger Liner SS United States Threatened by Eviction From Philadelphia Pier

The SS United States, the largest and fastest transatlantic passenger liner ever built in America, has spent the last 27 years moored at Philadephia’s Pier 82 on the Delaware River. The venerable ship is now threatened with eviction.  Yahoo reports … Continue reading

SS United States – Exploration of the Abandoned Ocean Liner

The SS United States is a ship from another era. One of the last great ocean liners, very different from modern cruise ships, she was designed to carry passengers across oceans.  On her maiden voyage in 1952, she set speed … Continue reading

15.5 Metric Tonnes of Cocaine Seized on Container Ship MSC Gayane in Philly

In one of the largest drug seizures in United States history, Federal authorities seized 15,500 kilos of cocaine hidden in seven shipping containers on the container ship MSC Gayane in the port of Philadelphia. The street value of the drugs … Continue reading

Shipment of Next-Gen Container Cranes to Close Delaware Memorial Bridge

For about 30 minutes early Saturday morning the Delaware Memorial Bridge will close as the heavy lift ship, Zhen Hua 16, with two large container cranes on deck, passes beneath it.  The distance from the water level to the top of the cranes … Continue reading

Fourth Annual Wooden Boat Festival at the Independence Seaport Museum

This Saturday the Fourth Annual Wooden Boat Festival will be held at the Independence Seaport Museum on the Delaware River in Philadelphia.   The festival will kick off with a Parade of Sail featuring the tall ships Gazela and AJ Meerwald as … Continue reading

Hard Times at Two Seaport Museums – South Street and Independence

New York and Philadelphia are major ports and centers of art and culture.  By all rights both should be home for major and successful seaport museums. Sadly that is not the case. Last month we posted about the Independence Seaport … Continue reading

Cruise Industry Changes – Boston Sets Record, Philly Pulling Out, and Cruises Returning to Cuba

The cruise industry continues to change.  While Boston reported a record number of cruise passengers traveling through its cruise terminal in 2010, the city of Philadelphia is planning on turning its cruise terminal into an an Urban Outfitters retail store, having only two cruise ships scheduled to call … Continue reading

Barquentine Gazela Returns To Sea

Philadelphia’s tall ship, the barquentine Gazela has returned to to sea after five years of being limited to protected water sailing due to a damaged rudder.  With a new rudder, the turn-of-the-century Portuguese-built barquentine set sail from Philadelphia bound where she … Continue reading