- Historic Ocean Liner Departs Philadelphia After Nearly Three Decades.
- SS United States Set for Remediation and Transformation in Mobile, Alabama.
- Tugboats to Lead Iconic Ship Through Delaware River on Final Voyage.
The legendary ocean liner, SS United States, has left her longtime home in Philadelphia after almost three decades at Pier 82. The vessel is being towed to Mobile, Alabama, for environmental cleanup before it is sunk as an artificial reef off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, coast, reports Marine Insight.
Complex Manoeuvre Marks Departure
Tugboats and crew performed the ship’s transit with precision, coordinating with the midday high tide on the Delaware River. The stern was towed over the slipway, followed by the bow, before she was reanchored at Pier 80, where she will stay until Monday, February 17, when she departs.
Departure Information and Scheduled Route
On Monday morning, tugboats will escort the SS United States into the Delaware River channel at low tide, scheduled for 11:18 a.m. (local time). She will be taken past major bridges, such as the Commodore Barry Bridge (U.S. 322), the Delaware Memorial Bridge (I-295), and the Walt Whitman Bridge (I-76). The Delaware River Port Authority has arranged minimal traffic disruptions as the vessel passes under these bridges.
The Vinik No.6, a strong tugboat, will head the tow and make every six hours based on currents and weather. There will be live tracking so that the public may track her trip online.
Remediation Process in Mobile, Alabama
When the vessel reaches Mobile, she will be docked at the Modern American Repair & Recycling Services yard. The decontamination process will involve stripping the ship of loose paint, PCBs, and fuel. Windows, portholes, funnels, and the radar mast will be dismantled. The funnel and mast will be transferred to the SS United States Conservancy to be incorporated in the design of a future museum and visitor center in Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
The whole preparation process is estimated to take a year before the ship is ultimately sunk to produce the world’s largest man-made reef.
Glowing Farewell to Philadelphia
To bid the ship farewell, volunteers installed special lighting on board. At dusk, her bridge was lit up in green, paying tribute to the Philadelphia Eagles, who had just won the Super Bowl. The city was also having a championship celebration for the team, and fans congregated at the pier to see the ship move.
A Legacy of Speed and Service
Commissioned 75 years ago at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, SS United States had a transatlantic speed record when she became operational in 1952 with an average of 36 knots. She had been in service as a passenger ship for more than a decade before being put out of service in 1969.
Since her retirement, the vessel was sold several times, with numerous unsuccessful attempts to restore or convert her into a tourist destination. In October 2024, the SS United States Conservancy was compelled to give up ownership due to a court battle, and she was sold to Okaloosa County for $1 million as part of a $10 million proposal to convert her into an artificial reef.
Future as a Marine Habitat
When deployed off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, the almost 1,000-foot-long SS United States will become a critical sea habitat, drawing fish, coral, and other sea creatures. The site should prove a favorite among divers and fishermen from around the globe.
Okaloosa County is collaborating closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and other entities to ensure all safety and environmental regulations are followed for the conversion of the ship into a sustainable underwater reef.
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Source: Marine Insight
