Latest news with #SSUnitedStates'
USA Today
20-02-2025
- General
- USA Today
SS United States starts last voyage to its final destination – at the bottom of the Gulf
The long-retired SS United States, the fastest ocean liner ever to cross the Atlantic, left the Delaware Bay on Thursday for its final voyage, after having been anchored to a Philadelphia dock for more than three decades. Despite recent rallying calls urging President Donald Trump to save 'America's Flagship' vessel, the larger-than-the Titanic ship will soon meet its watery grave. Tugboats are currently steering it down the Atlantic Ocean on a two-week trip to Mobile, Alabama, where it will be cleaned and renovated for a second life as the world's largest artificial reef off Florida's Gulf Coast. Here's the latest on the SS United States' journey south. Where is the SS United States going? The SS United States, a technological marvel when it hit the water in 1952 and broke the transatlantic speed record, left Philadelphia Wednesday to begin its journey south to Mobile, Alabama and then, eventually, off the coast of Okaloosa County, Florida. Officials in Okaloosa County bought the SS United States from the SS United States Conservancy last year. The grand ocean liner — over 100 feet longer than the Titanic — will be purposely sunk off the coast of Florida, where it will turn into the "world's largest artificial reef," according to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach tourism website. The initial part of the journey to Alabama is set to take about two weeks. The ship's engines are no longer operable, and it is instead being guided by four tugboats along the coast. The tugboats are expected to deliver the ship to a company called Modern American Recycling Services that specializes in vessel salvage. There, workers will remove contaminants from the ship and prepare it to be sunk. The process is slated to take about a year. Okaloosa County officials aren't yet sure where the ship's final resting place will be. It's expected to lie about 20 nautical miles south of the Florida Panhandle region in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area, according to the Pensacola News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network. Florida officials are also planning to build a museum on land for the ship. The underwater ship will be turned into an "immersive experience" for divers, according to the website. SS United States history Some of America's most rich and famous, from presidents to movie stars, sailed to Europe on the ocean liner while it was in service between 1952 and 1969. Some of those famous passengers included Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Sean Connery and Walt Disney. The ship also carried four U.S. presidents, including Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton. The SS United States was taken out of service in November 1969 as more travelers took to the air and its owner, United States Lines, lost money. The ship was sold multiple times between the late 1970s and early 2000s to scores of owners who tried and failed to redevelop it into various tourist attractions. It was finally sold to Okaloosa County in 2024. SS United States ship tracker You can follow along with the ship's journey using this tracker on the Destin-Fort Walton Beach website. The SS United States Conservancy, a nonprofit that previously owned the ship, was livestreaming the ship's voyage on Wednesday. View it leaving Philadelphia here. Contributing: George Petras and Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY
CNN
19-02-2025
- General
- CNN
SS United States finally leaves Philadelphia to begin its last chapter
After months of multiple delays, the SS United States finally left its longtime home of Philadelphia just before 1 p.m. ET Wednesday. The storied ocean liner's next stop is Mobile, Alabama, where it will be prepared for its final mission — to become an artificial reef off the coast of the Florida Panhandle. The American maritime icon, nearly as large as the Chrysler Building, was launched in 1951 and set the transatlantic speed record in 1952. 'Today, the nation's sole surviving ocean liner will glide down the Delaware River to begin the next chapter in her uniquely American story,' said Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of the ship's designer, William Francis Gibbs, in statement just before ship left. After spending nearly three decades docked empty in Philadelphia, the tow to Mobile is expected to take about two weeks. Observers of the SS United States' move had become accustomed to changes of plans. Last fall, the biggest hurdle came in the form of a 'Captain of the Port Order' from the Coast Guard. The order said Florida's Okaloosa County, which is receiving the ship, needed to restore the ship's structural integrity before it would be allowed to depart. It was all set to go on February 6 when departure was again postponed 'due to follow-up details requested by the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure a proper tow from Pier 82 to Pier 80.' In the fall of 2024, Okaloosa County bought the ship to sink her and create the 'world's largest artificial reef.' The ship's final home will be under about 180 feet (55 meters) of water out about 20 miles (32 kilometers) in the Gulf of Mexico. The admiration never ceased, and the ship's final fate has brought mixed emotions. '(It's) heartbreaking to see it go,' said Kelly Micca in November. Micca spent several weeks painting a picture of the SS United States on an electrical pole across from the pier. 'It's such a perfect landmark.' On Wednesday, one commenter on the SS United States Conservancy's Facebook page said, 'Poor gal deserved a better fate than what she's about to receive. The scuba videos will be interesting though.'
CNN
19-02-2025
- General
- CNN
SS United States finally leaves Philadelphia to begin its last chapter
After months of multiple delays, the SS United States finally left its longtime home of Philadelphia just before 1 p.m. ET Wednesday. The storied ocean liner's next stop is Mobile, Alabama, where it will be prepared for its final mission — to become an artificial reef off the coast of the Florida Panhandle. The American maritime icon, nearly as large as the Chrysler Building, was launched in 1951 and set the transatlantic speed record in 1952. 'Today, the nation's sole surviving ocean liner will glide down the Delaware River to begin the next chapter in her uniquely American story,' said Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of the ship's designer, William Francis Gibbs, in statement just before ship left. After spending nearly three decades docked empty in Philadelphia, the tow to Mobile is expected to take about two weeks. Observers of the SS United States' move had become accustomed to changes of plans. Last fall, the biggest hurdle came in the form of a 'Captain of the Port Order' from the Coast Guard. The order said Florida's Okaloosa County, which is receiving the ship, needed to restore the ship's structural integrity before it would be allowed to depart. It was all set to go on February 6 when departure was again postponed 'due to follow-up details requested by the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure a proper tow from Pier 82 to Pier 80.' In the fall of 2024, Okaloosa County bought the ship to sink her and create the 'world's largest artificial reef.' The ship's final home will be under about 180 feet (55 meters) of water out about 20 miles (32 kilometers) in the Gulf of Mexico. The admiration never ceased, and the ship's final fate has brought mixed emotions. '(It's) heartbreaking to see it go,' said Kelly Micca in November. Micca spent several weeks painting a picture of the SS United States on an electrical pole across from the pier. 'It's such a perfect landmark.' On Wednesday, one commenter on the SS United States Conservancy's Facebook page said, 'Poor gal deserved a better fate than what she's about to receive. The scuba videos will be interesting though.'
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SS United States relocation to Mobile delayed amid safety concerns
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WKRG) — The planned relocation of the SS United States from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama, is facing delays due to additional safety checks requested by the United States Coast Guard. The historic vessel's transformation into the world's largest artificial reef off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is now postponed, with no new departure date set. 2025 Wharf Boat, Yacht Show scheduled Initially slated for Feb. 8, the move requires further Coast Guard approvals to ensure a safe tow from Pier 82 to Pier 80, which complicates the timeline. 'We have gotten authorization from the Coast Guard and approvals to move her at 4 a.m. on Saturday,' Okaloosa County Public Information Officer Nick Tomecek said. 'That's weather contingent and also dependent on visibility that day. That may change.' The SS United States is destined for a significant transformation into an artificial reef, aiming to enhance the marine ecosystem and boost local tourism. This project involves extensive environmental remediation to remove hazardous materials and ensure the vessel does not harm the marine environment. Once relocated to Mobile, the ship will undergo a nine-to-12-month preparation period where nonenvironmentally friendly materials, including fuel and wires, will be removed. Largest meat processing plant, retail market in Alabama opens in Atmore 'While she's in Mobile, we'll be taking all the non-environmentally friendly stuff out of it, including fuel, wires, that sort of thing,' Tomecek explained. The vessel's movement is a spectacle in itself expected to take two weeks as it travels up Mobile Bay and into the Mobile River. Safety measures are a priority, with rigorous coordination among multiple agencies to ensure a smooth transition. 'Safety is No. 1…,' Tomecek emphasized. 'Our contractors make sure we have two good captains that are on that.' The SS United States' transformation is not just about creating an artificial reef; it's also about continuing the legacy of a ship that has sparked passion and interest in maritime history and environmental conservation. Case of 2 accused of throwing dogs over Mobile's Dog River Bridge sent to grand jury 'It's going to benefit the marine species, the divers, the fishing industry,' Tomecek noted, highlighting the broad impacts of the project. Okaloosa County remains committed to this project's success, promising to keep the public informed and engaged as they work towards a new departure schedule for the SS United States. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
