susan gibbs is his granddaughter. >> i'm 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 the moment when william gibbs ship superseded the story of that other luxury ocean liner. >> there's the inevitable comparison to the titanic. it's from the same time. >> our ship is the most famous ship that didn't sink. >> in her memories, gibbs grandfather was a reserved, dry figure. he died when she was only five but in combing through his old letters susan gibbs found william gibs was a man determined to build a ship faster, safer than any, never using wood, which could cause a fire. >> you can't set her on fire you can't sink her and you can't catch her. he was maniacal about safety on the vessel. >> and he was passionate about his dream. >> he would tell reporters he loved this ship more than his wife, more than life itself. there is a picture on the wall of my home here in which he is standing on the shore parkway of brooklyn just gazing at his ship returning from one of her transatlantic runs. woe do it routinely it was a love sto

susan gibbs is the director. >> it represents the last best most iconic achievement in ship building. it's an engineering marvel. it's a work of art and it's our history, our shared history of the nation. it would be as if the statue of liberty was chopped off at her knees. >> reporter: how critical is this point in time? >> we are at the 11th hour. we have never been closer to saving the ship, and we have never been closer to losing it. >> reporter: gibbs has more than a vested interest. this ship is in her heritage. her grandfather, william francis gibbs, built the "ss united states." during world war ii three-quarters of u.s. naval vessels built were designed by gibbs' firm. as the war ended, he went back to work on the ship he loved more than anything. his biographer, steven ujifusa, spoke to "sunday morning" back in 2013. >> he was kind of like steve jobs in that he knew a lot of engineering but he was very much a visionary. imagine taking a structure the size of the chrysler building, turning it on its side, and pushing it through the atlantic at 44 miles per hour. that's a heck

susan gibbs is the executive director. >> it represents the last, best kind of -- the most iconic achievement in ship building and design here in this nation. it's an engineering marvel, a work of art, and it's our history. it's our shared history of the nation. it would be as if the statue of liberty was just kind of chopped off at her knees. >> how critical is this point in time? >> we are at the 11th hour. the 59th minute of the 11th hour. we have never been closer to saving the ship, and we have never been closer to losing it. >> reporter: gibbs has more than a vested interest. this ship is in her heritage. her grandfather, william francis gibbs, built the "uss united states." a man with no formal training in marine engineering who taught himself how to build ships. during world war ii 3/4 of u.s. naval vessels built were designed by gibbs's firm. as the war ended, he went back to work on the ship he loved more than anything. his biographer, steven ujifusa, spoke to "sunday morning" back in 2013. >> he was kind of like steve jobs in that he knew a lot of engineering but he was very much a

number susan gibbs is hoping a private developer would pay.he told "eyewitness news", a few developers have expressed recent interest. >> are you at peace with whatever happens? >> no, i'm not at peace. we can't -- she's got to stay afloat. >> david spunt, cbs-3, "eyewitness news". >>> well the philadelphia inquirer, daily news and philly.com are merging news rooms, that move announce the by the publisher philadelphia media network, also comes with layoffs. the company will continue to put out separate papers. the changes are expected to save the company five to $6 million. >> well, get out the vote effort are ramming up across the region as election day approaches on tuesday. the black clergy of philadelphia says their plans to boost voter turn out coincide with the 50th anniversary of the voting right act. >> certainly in the community, i don't know why, but have to ask them that. maybe we need to have saturdays? >> the organization also endorsed judge kevin dougherty's campaign for one of three vacant seats on the pennsylvania supreme court

. >> susan gibbs' grandfather designed the united state. now, it is her job to save it. the con is her venosi that owns the vessel is running out of monday. >> i the challenge facing the con is her advance i, to keep this vessel safe and sound here at pier 82 costs us approximately $60,000 each month. >> gibbs gave "eyewitness news" a rare tour of the ship recently, she envisions a museum, restaurant, bank wet hall, conference center. gibbs says the it is close to securing redevelopment deal, but unless the united states can pay her bills this month, she may never have the chance to revisit her glory days. >> and for this nation, just to move on to the next thing, and not protect this would be tragic. >> they liken the issue to plane running out every runway. they say they need need to keep the ship here docked in philadelphia long enough to finalize the redevelopment deals. they say they've never been closer to that point ever. you may remember this ship has been in the situation before. it has always found a donor in the 11th hour. they are hoping that happens again. t

for four years susan gibbs has been trying to get financing for renovation and a new home that could a museum or offices. they have three more weeks before money forces them to sell this piece of history for scrap metal. >> you are literally trying to buy time. >> we are trying to buy time. that is exactly what we need to do. because these pieces are -- we are almost there. and we need that extra time to -- to safe this ship. we are not always good about recognizing and holding on to our history. particularly at this scale. but it is so important and we're so close to saving it. >> for "cbs this morning saturday," edward lawrence philadelphia. >> such a beautiful ship. and so sad to see it in that condition. it's bigger than the titanic and another of its most famous passengers was actually the mona lisa. >> it's true when she said we don't really know what do with that history and then we're all sad once it's not there anymore. >> i hope she can hold on to it. >>> it was one of the most amazing and daring fetes in history, a tight rope between the two tourist. it is part of a new fi

. >> reporter: for four years susan gibbs has been trying to get financing for renovation and a new home that could cost up to $300illion. ideas ranging from a hotel to a museum or fices. they have weeks bere money forces them to sell this piece of maritime history for scrap tal. edward lawrence, philadelphia.ld on the shower curtain for up to 7 days" spray. discover more ways you can use lysol i did everything i could to ma her party perfect. almost everything. you know, 1 i n 10 houses could get hit by an e eensive septic disaster. but for only $7 a moh, rid-x helps break down waste. avoid a septicisaster with rid-x. >>> it was nearly 40 years ago that a little-known singer from england put on a pair of big glasses, picked up his guitar, and transformed into megastar elvis costello. well, he's got a new memoir out called "unfaithful music and disappearing ink." ananhe sat down with antntny mason for "sundadamorning." >> reporter: cross the river mersey on the ferry to liverpool. >> look how beautiful the skyline is. >> reporter: and yououail back into declan macmanus's youth. >> liverp

a number susan gibbs is hoping a private developer would pay. she told "eyewitness news", few developers have expressed recent interests. are you at peace with whatever happens? >> no, we can't. she's got to stay afloat. >> david spunt, cbs-3, "eyewitness news". >> rock-and-roll half marathon starts at 7:30, begins at eakin's oval. live music along the 13.1-mile course. headliner concert featuring the jim blossoms. proceeds for the event go to the american association for cancer research. >> well, old bridge gets new life in manayunk. chopper three, over the opening of newman young bridge, it was used by septa, some 30 years ago, has been rehabbed into a pedestrian and bike only bridge. the only one of its kinds over the schuylkill. it now links the cynwyd heritage trail with the schuylkill river trail. >> 6:38 right now. a brunch with a halloween twist. ya, do you like ghosts in your coffee? who doesn't? coming up next, cbs-3 vittoria waddle discovers great place to go this holiday weekend, we'll have this spectacular story behind the food. plu

. >> reporter: susan gibbs's grandfather designed the ss united states, now it is her job to save it.wns the the vessel is running out of money. >> the challenge facing the group is that to keep this vessel safe and sound here at pier 82, it cost us approximately $60,000 each month. >> reporter: they are paying for time, gibbs says the group is closer then ever to securing redevelopment deal, the ideas include museum, restaurants and conference center but unless the the you had can pay her bills this month that dream may turn into a nightmare. >> it would be a tragedy to lose this ship. >> reporter: the the ss united states has found itself on the verge of being sold on scrap before. the group was able to secure last minute donor then, they are hoping to find another now. deadline october 31st. in south philadelphia, jan carabao for cbs-3 "eyewitness news". >>> that is "eyewitness news" at 5:00. >>> now at 6:00 an "eyewitness news" exclusive. a heart broken wife speaks to "eyewitness news" about the loss of her husband of nearly six decade, who was killed in a tragic lawn mower accide

. >> let's talk about it now susan gibbs executive direct for of s.s.nited states and william francis gibbs daughter the designer of the ship. >> good morning. >> we had so many plans for the ship there's been all sorts of talk now it's sitting there why does it cost $60,000 a month to keep it there. >>> it's a combination of expenses, pier rental insurance and maintenance. exciting thing we're very close to achieving redevelopment progress at long last. we are -- we never have been closer to saving the ship but unfortunately we've never been closing to losing her. >> well, that's the news i heard this week she you could be headed to the scrap yard. which is it. sell her for scrap or make her into a beautiful museum or something. >> we are working our heart out to convert this ship into a mixed use museum and development complex. there's 500,000 square feet of prime water front real estate as we saich the ship could not only be an extraordinary preservation of history but it has tremendous economic potential as well. this month will be crucial to whethe