The historic 1950s ocean liner SS United States has completed part of its last voyage, but the exact location of its final resting place, which is the world’s largest artificial reef, is still under discussion.
The ship will eventually be sunk off the Florida Gulf coast after Okaloosa County took ownership of the cruise liner.
Bay County Offers $3 Million to Move Artificial Reef Site
Okaloosa County officials haven’t disclosed the exact location. Now, nearby Bay County wants to pay Okaloosa to move the reef site further east.
The Bay County Tourist Development Council has offered $3 million to Okaloosa County to sink the ship closer to Panama City. It wants to share in the expected economic boost.
Bay County’s local diving industry last week urged officials to table an offer, which Okaloosa County is reportedly considering seriously.
“Access to this wreck will help Panama City Beach regain its status as a premier dive location while bringing in a demographic of tourists who respect the natural environment,” said Ashley Barrow from the Panama City Dive Center.
Okaloosa County Public Information Officer Nick Tomecek said the reef ‘ship wreck’ has the potential to benefit the entire Northwest Florida region.
“It’s exciting and is evidence that Northwest Florida tourism, businesses, dive shops and fishing industry are all supportive,” Tomecek said. “It’s something that’s going to benefit, not just Destin-Fort Walton Beach, it’s going to benefit the entire Gulf Coast of Northwest Florida and the tourism community.”
Bay County has proposed sinking the ship about 20 miles further east of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. There is still time before a decision needs to be made. USS United States is currently in Alabama.
It is expected to stay at the Port of Mobile for several months while it is stripped of toxic materials and fuel residue before its final journey to Florida.
Tourism Boost for Mobile, Alabama
Since the ship arrived in Mobile two weeks ago, it has fueled an unexpected tourism boost for the port. The sight of “America’s Flagship’ has sparked a surge of interest for harbor cruises aboard the local boat Perdido Queen.
“The response has been phenomenal. We’ve had a lot of people from Mobile actually get reinvigorated with the port itself. People have been on the tour to see this ship who have never been on the Mobile River,” said Perdido Queen guide, Jon Robitaille.
