A petition is challenging the fate of the historic SS United States vessel, which is slated to become an artificial reef off the Florida Gulf Coast.
Since launching the appeal on February 25, the petition has amassed over 7,800 signatures, citing legislation that supports its preservation.
The ship—currently in Mobile, Alabama—is being prepared for scuttling, an 18-month operation involving 200 workers.
Teams are removing environmentally hazardous materials from the 72-year-old vessel while extracting historical artifacts, such as its radar mast, funnels, and bridge equipment, ahead of its planned sinking.
The group behind the petition, the New York Coalition to Save the SS United States, insists that sinking the ship poses considerable environmental risks and ignores its historical significance as the fastest transatlantic ship for more than 70 years.
Protected by Law
As the retired vessel finds itself “teetering on the brink of needless destruction,” the coalition claims it is protected by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Section 106, which states that major modifications to historically significant sites require government review.
The petition further suggests that the US government could purchase and preserve the ship.
Alternatively, it proposes returning the vessel to New York, which could be part of a sustainable waterfront development in Brooklyn.
Other Attempts To Save the SS United States
In addition to collecting signatures, the New York Coalition wrote a formal appeal to President Donald Trump in February, urging him to preserve the vessel as a public attraction.
“We implore you take prompt executive action by ordering the taking of this precious symbol of American engineering and shipbuilding for public use,” the letter shared by 1819 News reads.
Additionally, the same group initiated a GoFundMe campaign for $1 million. So far, Trump has not responded, but the fundraiser has collected around $6,000.
Retiring the SS United States
After the SS United States retired in 1969, the vessel changed hands several times and ended up in Virginia, Europe, and finally, Philadelphia, where it spent 30 years accumulating hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent at the local pier.
In October 2024, a court-ordered mediation settlement led its previous owners, the SS United States Conservancy, to sell the vessel to Florida’s Okaloosa County.
“This ship deserves preservation, not destruction—once she’s gone, a piece of American history disappears forever,” Melissa Fielding commented on Facebook.
County officials are now converting the iconic ocean liner into the world’s largest artificial reef. Despite delays, the vessel left Philadelphia last month, on its way to becoming an underwater attraction.
An Okaloosa official told FOX10 News that they are aware of the petition but have no intention of changing their plans.
As preparations to sink the SS United States continue, its fate appears sealed—but preservationists like Melissa are still fighting for a last-minute reversal.
