Okaloosa County’s Tourist Development Department, Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, says it has completed the necessary safety requirements by local, state and federal agencies to move the SS United States from Philadelphia to a docking area in Mobile, Alabama where preparations to to sink the historic ocean liner off Florida are expected to continue.
The SS United States, one of America’s most historic ships, spent most of its career traveling between New York City and Southampton, England. The SS United States Conservancy transferred ownership of the SS United States to Okaloosa County.
The New York Coalition to Save the SS United States, which includes the Lower Manhattan Historical Association, has been making a last ditch effort to prevent the ship from being sunk.
Operations to move “America’s Flagship” were expected to begin with a lateral move from Pier 82 to Pier 80 this morning, Thursday, February 6, 2025. The United States will depart Philadelphia on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 4 am. According to Okaloosa County, Florida officials.
“If visibility is an issue that morning, the move down river will take place at the next low tide. She will be chaperoned by multiple tug boats as she makes her way down the Delaware River and into the Atlantic Ocean,”the county’s tourism department announced in press release issued Wednesday.
The former steamship’s journey to Mobile is expected to take about two weeks. Upon arrival, the vessel contractors will remove hazardous material, including non-metal parts and fuel.
Modifications will also be made to ensure that when the vessel is sunk, it will land upright underwater. The preparation process will take about 12 months organizers say.
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. The County has dubbed the project the “World’s Largest Artificial Reef.”
“Okaloosa County will continue to partner with the SS United States Conservancy as it pivots to develop a land-based museum in Destin-Fort Walton Beach that will celebrate and commemorate the nation’s flagship,” the press release said. “The County will provide the Conservancy with regular project updates and will support the museum planning process which will incorporate iconic features from the ship, including the funnels, radar mast, and other signature components, as well as the Conservancy’s extensive curatorial and archival collection.”
A webpage to follow the move has been established which allows visitors to track the ship’s movement via GPS.
Illustration: Colorized photo of SS United States during sea trials.
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