Operations to move the SS United States have been delayed to ensure that logistical details and procedures maintain ideal conditions for the move, Okaloosa County announced in a press release.
A tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico that could impede the safe delivery of the vessel to its destination in Mobile, Alabama, is also being monitored, the county said.
Set to become an artificial reef, the SS United States was originally scheduled to be moved on Nov. 15, 2024, at low tide.
According to Okaloosa County, a new date for the departure from the Port of Philadelphia has not been set yet.
“The County understands that there is considerable interest in the SS United States and her move from Pier 82 and that plans have been made by interested parties,” the press release stated.
“Like most large, multi-faceted operations, this move involves coordination with multiple agencies, and dates, times and other logistics are subject to change to make certain the vessel is moved safely,” it added.
Once moved, the SS United States will travel via multiple tugboats to Mobile, where it will begin its transformation into an artificial reef.
According to Okaloosa County, contractors will remove hazardous materials, including non-metal parts and fuel, to ensure the ship’s deployment is clean and not harmful to the environment it aims to benefit.
Modifications will also be made to ensure that when the vessel is deployed, it will land upright underwater, it added.
The process of preparing the vessel for deployment will take approximately 12 months, with the exact location in the Gulf of Mexico for the vessel’s deployment yet to be determined.
It is expected that the 1952-built ship will lie about 20 miles south of the Florida Panhandle region in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.
Okaloosa County also said it will continue to partner with the SS United States Conservancy for the development of a land-based museum and visitor center in Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
The facility will celebrate and commemorate the nation’s flagship, the county said, incorporating features from the ship, such as its iconic funnels and radar mast.
