Historic ocean liner the SS United States is almost ready for its final journey at the third attempt. It is finally scheduled to leave Philadelphia on Monday, Feb. 17. New owner, Okaloosa County in Florida, confirmed all safety requirements have been met to the US Coast Guard’s satisfaction.
Journey to Alabama Starts on Presidents’ Day
The ship will depart today, Feb 14, at high tide, shifting initially from Pier 82 to Pier 80. After the weekend it will start the long journey to Mobile, Alabama where it will spend up to one year being prepared for its role as the world’s largest artificial reef off the Florida coast.
In Mobile, hazardous materials and any remaining fuel will be removed. The hull will be modified so that when it is sunk, the ship will remain upright on the sea bed. The journey to Alabama is expected to take about two weeks.
“Upon arrival, the vessel will continue its rebirth into an artificial reef as contractors remove hazardous material, including nonmetal parts and fuel to ensure this deployment is clean and not harmful to the environment it aims to benefit,” the Okaloosa County’s Tourism Development Department said in an update.
“The exact location along the Gulf Coast for the vessel’s deployment has not been set, but it is expected to be about 20 nautical miles south of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area,” county officials added. A land-based museum to document the ship’s history will be established in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area. This is in partnership with the previous owner the SS United States Conservancy.
“As the World’s Largest Artificial Reef, the story of the SS United States will be told to thousands of divers from around the world as they explore her unique design and features.” Once the ship leaves Philly, the public can track the journey via GPS at www.destinfwb.com.
The SS United States was a storied ocean liner with its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s. It recorded the quickest transatlantic crossing ever for a cruise ship on its maiden voyage. That record still stands today.
