. >> mcsweeney isn't the first to fall for this ship, it was william francis gibbs, sending 40 years to build the ship. 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 the moment when william gibbs ship superseded the story of that other luxury ocean liner.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 inevitable comparison to the titanic, from the same time. >> our ship is the omost famous ship that didn't sink. >> in her memory, gibbs grandfather was a reserved dry figure. he died when she was only five. but in combing through his old letters, susan gibbs found her grandfather was determined to build a ship faster stronger and safer than any other. even banning the use of any wood on the ship to prevent fire. >> the cat streef of th catastrophe of the titanic as well as other vessels motivated my grandfather, with respect to the s.s. united states, you can't set her on fire you can't catch her and you can't sink her. he was maniacal. there is a picture on the wall of my home in which he is standing on the shore