OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — The SS United States, once America’s flagship, is set to begin its transformation into the world’s largest artificial reef, according to Okaloosa County’s Tourist Development Department.
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The vessel, currently docked at Pier 82 in south Philadelphia, will be towed to Mobile, Alabama, starting November 14, 2024. This marks the first step in a year-long process to prepare the ship for its final resting place off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
The journey will start at high tide on November 14, with tugboats securing and moving the SS United States to Pier 80. The following morning, during low tide, the ship will be towed down the Delaware River, passing under several bridges, including the Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry, and Delaware Memorial bridges. These structures will close temporarily to accommodate the vessel’s passage.
Once the ship reaches the Atlantic Ocean, a smaller tugboat team will continue towing it to Mobile, a journey expected to take about two weeks.
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Upon arrival in Mobile, contractors will remove hazardous materials and prepare the vessel to ensure it lands upright on the seafloor.
The reef is expected to be located approximately 20 miles south of the Florida Panhandle region in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area, with final deployment set for late 2025.
Okaloosa County is also partnering with the SS United States Conservancy to develop a land-based museum in Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The museum will preserve iconic features of the ship, such as its funnels and radar mast, along with historical artifacts.
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Launched in 1951, the SS United States still holds the transatlantic speed record from her maiden voyage and famously transported U.S. presidents, celebrities, and heads of state until her retirement in 1969.
Notable passengers included four U.S. Presidents — Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, and a young Bill Clinton — and Hollywood stars like Marlon Brando, Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, and John Wayne.
Other prominent figures, such as Coco Chanel, Sean Connery, Walt Disney, Duke Ellington, and Salvador Dali, also sailed aboard the ship.
To follow the journey via GPS tracking, visit //www.destinfwb.com/explore/eco-tourism/ssus. Tracking will begin when the vessel begins moving operations.
