The SS United States, a historic ocean liner that shattered the transatlantic speed record in 1952, has departed from Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront on its final voyage to become the world’s largest artificial reef. The 1,000-foot vessel is being towed to Mobile, Alabama, for prep work before officials eventually sink it off Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The SS United States, considered a beacon of American engineering, was once used as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops. It held the transatlantic speed record for an ocean liner and crossed the Atlantic Ocean in just three days and 10 hours. The ship’s final owner is planning to sell it to Okaloosa County for more than $10 million, with the goal of generating millions of dollars annually in local tourism spending.
The process of cleaning, transporting, and sinking the vessel is expected to take at least one-and-a-half years. The conservancy that oversees the ship and its landlord has finally resolved a years-old rent dispute, allowing the final leg of the voyage to proceed. Officials hope that the SS United States will become a popular diving attraction and stand out among Okaloosa County’s more than 500 artificial reefs.
The ship’s president, Susan Gibbs, described it as a “symbol of our nation’s strength, innovation, and resilience,” wishing it “fair winds and following seas” on its historic journey. The SS United States has been on the Delaware River waterfront for years, awaiting redevelopment plans that never materialized. Its new fate marks the end of an era for this iconic vessel.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/historic-ship-artificial-reef-philadelphia-florida-gulf-818c44d7f3078c4ffa3b8aa39f3329ed