Historic ocean liner departs Philadelphia on voyage to become world's largest artificial reef

The move comes about four months after the conservancy that oversees the ship and its landlord resolved a years-old rent dispute.

The historic, aging ocean liner that a Florida county plans to turn into the world’s largest artificial reef departed from South Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront on Wednesday, marking the opening segment of its final voyage.

The SS United States, a 1,000-foot vessel that shattered the transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, is being towed to Mobile, Alabama, for planned prep work before officials eventually sink it off Florida’s Gulf Coast. The move comes about four months after the conservancy that oversees the ship and its landlord resolved a years-old rent dispute.

Officials initially planned to move the vessel last November, but that was delayed due to concerns from the U.S. Coast Guard that the ship wasn’t stable enough to make the trip. Officials in Okaloosa County on Florida’s coastal Panhandle hope it will become a barnacle-encrusted standout among the county’s more than 500 artificial reefs and a signature diving attraction. They believe it could generate millions of dollars annually in local tourism spending for scuba shops, charter fishing boats, and hotels.

The deal to buy the ship could eventually cost more than $10 million, and the lengthy process of cleaning, transporting, and sinking the vessel is expected to take at least one and a half years.

The SS United States was once considered a beacon of American engineering, doubling as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops. Its maiden voyage broke the transatlantic speed record in both directions when it reached an average speed of 36 knots (just over 66 km/h), crossing the Atlantic Ocean in three days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes—besting the RMS Queen Mary’s time by 10 hours. To this day, the SS United States holds the transatlantic speed record for an ocean liner.

"The ship will forever symbolize our nation’s strength, innovation, and resilience," said Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of the naval architect who designed the vessel. "We wish her fair winds and following seas on her historic journey to her new home."

The SS United States became a reserve ship in 1969 and later bounced to various private owners who hoped to redevelop it. However, their plans proved too expensive or poorly timed, leaving the vessel looming for years on South Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront.