Thousands watched Wednesday as the retired SS United States, a once-luxurious ocean liner, was towed down the Delaware River from the city toward its next stop in Mobile, Alabama.
After several delays, the 70-year-old ship, which holds the transatlantic speed record, is embarking on a journey that will end in its sinking off the coast of Florida as the world’s largest artificial reef.
The massive red, white, and black vessel left Pier 82 in South Philadelphia under the power of several tug boats and passed under the large bridges that cross the Delaware River.
Ship enthusiasts can track the ship’s approximately two-week journey to Mobile online.
In Mobile, contractors will remove hazardous materials to prepare the 990-foot ship, which is 100 feet longer than the Titanic, for its final voyage.
The sinking off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is expected to create a unique underwater attraction that will increase tourism in Okaloosa County.
The total cost of acquiring, transporting, cleaning, and sinking the ship is estimated at $10.1 million, according to Okaloosa County officials.
Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of ship designer William Francis Gibbs, said recently that the project will “keep the spirit of the ship alive.”
“The SS United States has inspired millions the world over as a symbol of American pride and excellence. Should the ship be converted into an artificial reef, she will become a unique historic attraction above and below the waterline. A land-based museum and immersive experience utilizing the latest technology will showcase her unique story and proud history. Converting the world’s fastest ship into the world’s largest artificial reef will write a new chapter for the SS United States as a world class destination,” stated Gibbs.
Designed as a convertible troop carrier, the SS United States could transport 14,000 troops 10,000 miles without refueling. It carried four U.S. presidents and numerous celebrities across the Atlantic during its operational years from 1952 to 1969.
The ship fell out of favor with the rise of air travel.
It was docked in Virginia for many years and stripped of its interior in 1984 before arriving in Philadelphia in 1996.
The SS United States Conservancy describes the ship as “America’s Flagship.” It is the fastest passenger ship ever built and the largest ever made in America.
The decision to move the ship from its current location at Pier 82 in South Philly came after a court order delayed its eviction to allow for mediation with the ship’s landlord, Penn Warehousing.
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