Excitement as ss United States’ Departure Delayed Again
Excitement over the impending departure of the famed ocean liner ss United States was building last week before a further delay appeared prolonging her stay in Philadelphia. The new owners of the liner, Florida’s Okaloosa County, have been trying for months to start the final voyage of the now 75-year-old liner as she heads toward a new chapter as the largest artificial reef.
On Wednesday, February 5, Okaloosa County announced that after months of delay, it had finally received all the necessary approvals for a large ship dead tow as defined by the U.S. Coast Guard. At high tide around 0600 on Thursday, February 6, the plan was to yank the 53,000 gross ton liner from Pier 82 where she has been docked since July 1986 after the vessel returned from having been stripped of her interior fittings in Turkey and Ukraine.
The Legend of the ss United States
The ss United States despite having been out of service since 1969 remains fabled in the annals of shipping history. Designed by America’s renowned naval architect William Francis Gibbs, she entered service in 1952. On her maiden voyage, she shattered the Atlantic speed record for a passenger liner with an average speed of over 35 knots and 72 years later remains the fastest passenger liner to have ever crossed the Atlantic. The liner is rumored to have touched 40 knots during her “top secret” speed trials.
The delays had centered on concerns from the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure a proper dead ship tow plan was in place for the nearly 1,000-foot liner. The review included safety precautions and planning for the tow as well as questions regarding the stability, appropriate amount of ballast, and the structural integrity of the vessel.
Future Plans for the ss United States
Okaloosa County has estimated it will be a two-week journey for the liner to reach Mobile, Alabama. Upon arrival, the vessel will undergo an extensive remediation removing oil from her fuel tanks and other contaminants. Her iconic profile will be lost as her two massive funnels and her radar mast are to be dismantled and all the windows removed. There are also plans for unspecified modifications to ensure that when the vessel is deployed, it will land upright underwater. The preparation processes are anticipated to take about 12 months.
Okaloosa County highlights that the exact location along the Gulf Coast where the ss United States will be deployed as an artificial reef has not been set. It is expected to be about 20 nautical miles south of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.
Environmental Impact and Visitor Center
“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. She will also benefit her surrounding ecosystem and become home to countless marine species that will thrive from the presence of her structure,” said Okaloosa County.
The County added that due to her size and the depth, the vessel will be home to a wide variety of marine life from iconic reef fish such as red snapper to pelagic species of fish like wahoo. The County is also helping the Conservancy with plans to establish an on-shore visitor’s center and museum dedicated to the liner and American design.