s.s. united states is exceptionaller her here is size, 990 feet, about five blocks long, nearly the heightthe empire state building. >> for the united states is out to recapture the blue ribbon of the atlantic. >> her speed, to this day, she holds the passenger liner record for crossing the atlantic. and a revolutionary concept when launches in 1950 two, a hull constructed almost entirely out of a space-age material. >> parts entirely of aluminum. >> the super structure is aluminum. there is no rust. it's solid. just underneath the paint, it's perfect condition. there is no problem with blasting and painting. >> it would be seaworthy? >> it would be seaworthy, absolutely. no doubt about that. >> miche isn't the first man to fall to that ship. that was william francis gibbs who launched idea in 1916. and then spent almost 40 years working to build the ship. susan gibbs is his granddaughter. >> i am particularly fond of this picture because it shows my grandfather gazing at the moment of the ship's launch. >> the moment when william gibbs' ship superseded the story of that other luxury ocean