Time appears to be running out for the SS United States, the historic ocean liner that proponents had hoped to see docked at the Brooklyn waterfront as a floating museum and business hub. Despite a passionate appeal to President Donald Trump, the vessel's fate seems to be inching closer to becoming an artificial reef off the coast of Florida. The New York preservationist group, in a fervent request, has urged Trump to take swift action and purchase the ship under "public use" laws, hoping to save what they describe as an "iconic and irreplaceable testament to American achievement," as reported by Axios.
As stakeholders strive to turn the tide of events, they fear that sinking the ship, partly constructed of lightweight aluminum, may pose untested risks to the marine environment. The group claimed the plan could create the next environmental disaster and highlighted the unique dangers of aluminum oxidizing in seawater. This urgency to prevent potential harm aligns with their efforts to repurpose the vessel as a floating ecosystem with sustainable-focused coworking space and incubators, in collaboration with Brooklyn businessman John Quadrozzi Jr., mentioned by Gothamist.
There's been no indication of a change of course from Okaloosa County, which purchased the SS United States for $1 million. The county's spokesperson, Nick Tomecek, affirmed the commitment to deploying the ship as an artificial reef, stating, "Okaloosa County fully intends to deploy the SS United States at the world's largest artificial reef," as per Gothamist. Confident in the environmental safety of this plan, Tomecek explained that before being reefed, the ship would undergo extensive cleaning to remove all harmful materials.
Amidst these looming preparations, the preservationist's efforts faced repeated delays caused by weather and regulatory inquiries, pushing back the ship's transport to Mobile, Alabama, from its Philadelphia dock. As shared by Axios, the Coast Guard requested "additional information" about the towing apparatus and logistics. The group, led by James Kaplan and former Conservancy co-founder Dan McSweeney, is nevertheless determined to not easily relinquish hope, with McSweeney telling Axios, "It may or may not [turn out] differently," he says. "We're not going to know until we try."
What lies ahead for the SS United States is yet uncertain. After its transfer to Mobile, Alabama, an estimated 8-12 months of preparations will precede its intended sinking.
