The SS United States was once the fastest ocean liner on the planet, crossing the Atlantic Ocean eastbound in three days and ten hours in 1952. The rusting famed vessel will be heading to its final resting place next week, the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico after efforts to save and restore the SS United States ran aground over a $800,000 back rent dispute with its pier’s landlord in Philadelphia.
The SS United States Conservatory sold the ship to Okaloosa County in Florida’s Panhandle for $10 million in October, WPVI reported. The ocean liner will be transformed into the world’s largest artificial reef meant to serve as a tourist attraction for divers to visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The site will also feature a land-based museum and visitors center to honor the ship’s history. This will also involve the SS United States leaving Philadelphia for the first time in over 30 years. WPVI explained how the departure will be a headache for drivers:
“The process will begin around 11:45 a.m. on Nov. 14, with tugboats maneuvering the vessel to the north side of the slip and securing it to Pier 80. The ship will remain in that position until the next low tide, which is expected to be the following morning.
On Friday, officials said they expect low tide around 7 a.m. At that point, The Walt Whitman Bridge, Commodore Barry Bridge and the Delaware Memorial Bridge will all be shut down as the SSUS is towed down the river into the Delaware Bay.”
It will take two weeks for the ocean liner to be towed all the way to Mobile, Alabama, where the ship will be prepared to be sunk. All types of vehicles have been put out to pasture as artificial reefs. The New York City Subway sent over 1,000 retired Brightliner cars to multiple areas off the Atlantic coast. However, many of the cars began to disintegrate after only a few months. Hopefully, the SS United States will last longer.