The conservancy’s attorney, however, contends that the increased rent was never properly negotiated with them and was instead raised unilaterally. Should the ship be evicted, the Conservancy will need to find a new berth or potentially scrap the vessel.

“If this ship is evicted, it would have to be scrapped or reefed,” said Conservancy board member Warren Jones. “There is no alternative – given the size of the ship.”

The caretakers of the SS United States, once known as the Queen of the Seas, have sent out an SOS to the highest office in the land as the vessel faces the threat of eviction.