The iconic SS United States, currently docked at Pier 82 in South Philadelphia, is set to make its final journey—not as a passenger ship, but to become the world's largest artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico. According to 6abc, the ship is scheduled to depart on Thursday next week with tugboats ready to tow it at high tide around 11:45 a.m.
Okaloosa County, after securing a deal with the SS United States Conservancy, is leading the ship's relocation following a lengthy rent dispute. The ship will be towed to Mobile, Alabama, for clean-up before being sunk as an artificial reef. The county has invested $10.1 million in the project, including $1 million for a museum showcasing artifacts from the liner, according to PhillyVoice. Fans can track the ship's journey via GPS on the Destin-Fort Walton Beach website.
The operation, starting at 7 a.m. on Friday next week, will cause traffic disruptions as three regional bridges—the Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry, and Delaware Memorial—close to allow the ship's passage. Drivers are urged to plan alternative routes, according to the Department of Transportation and FOX 29.
The SS United States' journey from Philadelphia to Mobile is expected to take about two weeks. Upon arrival, the ship will undergo preparations for its final resting place on the Gulf floor, a process that could take up to a year. Once completed, it will become the world's largest artificial reef, surpassing the USS Oriskany, off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.
For additional details on Okaloosa County's artificial reef program and updates about the SS United States, the public can visit the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism page.
