Historic liner's future hinges on judge's decision

The SS United States has been docked at Pier 82 in South Philadelphia for over two decades, but it faces eviction amid a legal battle with a landlord over back rent.

Why it matters: The ship's caretakers fear a piece of American history could be lost forever if the ocean liner is evicted and can't find another home.

Behind the scenes: The 1,000-foot vessel is bigger than the Titanic and became the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic during its maiden voyage in 1952, eclipsing a previous record held by the RMS Queen Mary.

• The federal government helped pay for the vessel, which could've been deployed as a troopship in wartime. Instead, it was used as a transatlantic liner, carrying famous passengers such as Marilyn Monroe and Walt Disney.

Driving the news: Following a trial earlier this year, a federal judge will decide whether the vessel's landlord, Penn Warehousing, unfairly doubled its rent during the pandemic, NPR reported.

• It's unclear when the judge may decide the case. Still, the SS United States Conservancy, the nonprofit caretakers, aren't waiting for a ruling and are actively searching for another home for the ship.
• They've written to President Biden offering to donate the vessel to the government to keep it from being scrapped, NPR reported.

Flashback: The eviction dispute arose in 2022 when Penn Warehousing filed suit alleging the SS United States Conservancy owed more than $700,000 in back rent.

• The nonprofit argued a signed rental agreement in place for more than a decade didn't allow for a sudden rise in rent.

By the numbers: The group says daily costs to moor the ship along the Delaware River soared from $850 to $1,700, per NPR.

Zoom in: In a post-trial court filing, the group pointed to trial testimony in which it says Penn Warehousing admitted raising the rent "to force the issue to get the ship off the dock."

• The conservancy argued that the owner's "admission alone sinks" the case that it hiked rent to account for "rising costs."
• Penn Warehousing didn't immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment.

Zoom in: Over the years, there have been proposals to turn the ship into a cruise liner or time-share condos, per the Inquirer.

The bottom line: Regardless of the judge's decision, the ship "needs a new home," Susan Gibbs, the conservancy's president, told NPR. "Time is of the essence."

• The conservancy has floated options of returning the ship to its home base in Manhattan or finding a spot on the West Coast, per NPR.