60th anniversary of the Big U's Maiden crossing

On July 3, 1952, the SS United States began its maiden voyage. The vessel departed from the United States Lines' Pier 86 in New York City with Captain Harry Manning at the helm. There were rumors that the SS United States would go after the Transatlantic crossing record set by the RMS Queen Mary. It was no secret that the SS United States was fast, but it was not know just how quickly the vessel would go on its Maiden Voyage. When the SS United States arrived in England, it had successfully broken the record held for 14 years by the Queen Mary by over 10 hours. The SS United States completed the crossing in a record breaking 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes with an average speed of 35.59 knots.

On the return voyage, the SS Untied States did it again, breaking the westbound crossing record when it arrived in New York in 3 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes. The SS United States claimed the Blue Riband for the United States, a prize not held by a United States vessel since the SS Baltic, nearly one hundred years earlier. To this day, the westbound crossing record of the SS United States stands unbroken.

This was only the beginning of an illustrious career for the SS Untied States. It would go on to make 400 Transatlantic crossings before being retired in 1969.