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"   (Photograph by shaporama via Flickr. Some rights reserved.)  Fifty years old but still structurally sound with sleek, beautiful lines. Needs a paint job and some interior refurbishment, but in caring hands could be a real gem. Rock-solid construction details, absolutely fireproof\u2014not a speck of wood on her\u2014and as close to unsinkable as any ocean-going vessel ever. Would be perfect as a floating school, hotel, casino or museum. Price is negotiable, but must act fast.   The right owner would be somebody who cares deeply about this vessel&amp;#039;s history. The SS United States was the most impressive ocean liner ever built\u2014it still holds the record, set in 1952, for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic. The ship&amp;#039;s design was so advanced at the time that much of it was classified, and it had the ability (never used) to be converted from civilian to military use in a matter of days. That, combined with its speed, made it a shining example of Cold War innovation.   The ship now sits, virtually unnoticed, at a slip in Philadelphia. The previous owner, Norwegian Cruise Lines, had planned to refurbish the vessel, but in January transferred the title to its parent company\u2014Hong Kong-based Star Cruises. Such transfers are often the beginning of a process that ends on the beaches of Alang, India, where ships are dismantled for scrap metal. This was the fate of the SS United States&amp;#039; sister vessel, the SS Independence, which was also owned by Norwegian Cruise Lines and sent to the breakers just last year.   For a DIYer with deep pockets and a suite of metalworking tools, the United States would provide the ultimate backyard project. Or it would be a great fixer-upper for a government agency interested in preserving a national treasure. For more information, contact the SS United States Conservancy. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a4028/4304181/>