The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve a contingent contract to acquire the historic ocean liner SS United States for $1 million, with plans to sink it as an artificial reef off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

• The board approved a total budget of $10.1 million for the acquisition, remediation, transport and deployment of the nearly 1,000-foot-long vessel, contingent upon the conclusion of the current U.S. District Court-imposed mediation.
• The project also includes $1 million allocated to support a land-based museum highlighting the iconic ship.

County officials said they expect to secure funding partners to cover more than half the total cost, bringing the county’s contribution to less than $5 million. The funds will come from tourism tax dollars, not property taxes, with strict limitations on their uses.

Deputy Administrator Craig Coffey explained that these funds can only be used for the promotion of tourism and cannot be redirected to general fund purposes such as road construction, public safety, etc. 

• While a small percentage could potentially be used for certain infrastructure projects with a clear tourism nexus, like the Destin connector road, such uses require extensive studies and must meet specific criteria outlined in state law.

“This is an outstanding opportunity and I’m proud to support it,” said Commissioner Mel Ponder. “This is a heritage and a legacy that is generational.”

The SS United States, launched in 1952, still holds the record for fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner. It has been docked in Philadelphia since 1996 and was purchased by its current owner, the SS United States Conservancy, in 2011.

Alex Fogg, Natural Resources Chief for Okaloosa County, presented details of the project to the board. He explained that the ship is just shy of 1,000 feet long, over 100 feet wide, and 175 feet tall from its keel to the top of its funnels (smokestacks).

• “To put that into perspective, a lot of the vessels that we’ve deployed recently aren’t even 100 feet long,” Fogg said. “This vessel is actually wider than the total length of a lot of vessels we’ve been deploying.”

Fogg outlined plans to remove the ship’s funnels prior to deployment, which will allow the top deck to remain at a depth accessible to novice and beginner divers, while technical divers can explore the lower portions. The funnels will be preserved and displayed at the future land-base museum.

The ship’s current location became an issue this summer when a court ordered its removal from its pier in Philadelphia. Okaloosa County stepped in to explore options for converting it into an artificial reef.

“The Conservancy explored a number of other options prior to coming to the artificial reef decision,” Fogg explained. “They looked at making this potentially a pier-side entertainment center, apartments, restaurants, and a bunch of different options. The costs were very, very expensive and they weren’t able to find an investor that would follow through with that option.”

County staff conducted due diligence beginning in August, hiring a contractor to assess hazardous materials on board and evaluate the feasibility of towing the vessel from Philadelphia to Virginia for final cleaning, and then to Destin-Fort Walton Beach for sinking.

Once deployed, the SS United States would become the world’s largest artificial reef, surpassing the USS Oriskany, an 888-foot vessel sunk off Pensacola in 2006.

• Fogg projected the reef would be placed about 20-21 miles offshore at a depth of about 180 feet, with the top deck at 60 feet, making it accessible to divers of various skill levels.

Economic Impact and Funding

County officials anticipate significant economic benefits from the project. Based on studies of other large artificial reefs in the region, they project over $3 million in annual direct economic impact from diving alone.

“For every $1 spent on artificial reefs, it’s $7 annually or around $140 over the life of that artificial reef,” Fogg said, citing existing studies.

• The project aligns with the county’s tourism strategy of attracting “less people spending more money,” as noted by Commission Chairman Paul Mixon.

Commissioner Trey Goodwin emphasized that no property tax dollars would be used for the project. “We’re going to use the tourist money to pay our part of this,” he said. “I think that’s a good use.”

Concerns and Dissent

Some commissioners expressed concerns about the cost amid economic challenges facing residents. Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who cast the lone dissenting vote, said it was “hard to wrap my head around spending $10 million to drop a big boat into the Gulf of Mexico.”

• Ketchel questioned the accessibility of the reef for average tourists and locals.

Other commissioners defended the project. Commissioner Nathan Boyles pointed out that the county has invested in various niche projects that don’t benefit everyone directly but contribute to the overall appeal of the area.

“The reality is that this commission has done a really good job of trying to cover all our bases,” Boyles said. “I think you see that with projects in north Okaloosa County. Now you see it with significant water access projects going on.”

Historical Significance

The SS United States holds a special place in maritime history. Built in the early 1950s, it was designed to accommodate about 2,000 passengers but could be retrofitted to transport 14,000 troops if needed during a conflict.

“It was built in a time following World War II, where the United States was trying to figure out ways to get troops across the seas very, very quickly,” Fogg explained.

The ship’s speed capabilities were part of a top-secret Cold War program. On its maiden voyage in 1952, it broke the record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic in just over three days, a record it still holds today.

Next Steps

Following the approval, the county also executed agreements for remediation, transport, and deployment at today’s meeting as well. Environmental and structural due diligence has proven that not only is this project feasible but also a much lower price tag compared to other large vessel artificial reef projects, according to the county.

• The board also approved a contract worth $7.228million with Colleen Marine Inc. for transport, remediation, preparation, dockage, and deployment of the SS United States.

Additionally, the commission approved a last-minute agenda item related to continuing docking arrangements at Pier 82 in Philadelphia until the vessel can be removed and towed to Norfolk, VA. The agreement sets terms for dockage, repairs, and penalties if the ship is not moved by December 12th.

Deputy County Administrator Craig Coffey noted that the county’s financial exposure from this agreement is estimated to be $200,000 or less, depending on how long the ship remains at its current dock.

• “As soon as the weather window opens, we’ll allow transport to Norfolk, Virginia to immediately begin remediation and cleaning of the vessel,” Coffey said. “That’s estimated to take about 180 to 230 days.”

It is expected to take around a year to complete the necessary environmental remediation of the historic ocean liner and to arrange the vessel’s deployment. The exact deployment location offshore Destin-Fort Walton Beach has not been determined.

With these approvals, Okaloosa County moves closer to creating what officials hope will be a unique underwater attraction, preserving a piece of maritime history while boosting the local economy and marine ecosystem.