Okaloosa County has signed an agreement to purchase the SS United States, the historic ocean liner that holds the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, with plans to create the world’s largest artificial reef off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
- The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners will meet on Tuesday, September 3 at 3 p.m. to ratify the executed contract.
According to county documents, the Tourist Development Department is requesting approval for a budget allocation of up to $9 million for the acquisition, remediation, transport, and deployment of the SS United States. This project also includes plans for a land-based museum dedicated to the ship.
The SS United States, a 990-foot vessel launched in 1952, still holds the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner. Currently docked in Philadelphia, the ship faced legal challenges when a federal judge ruled on June 14, 2024, that it must vacate its location within 90 days.
This ruling has necessitated quick action to preserve the historic vessel.
Economic and Ecological Impact
The project is expected to have significant economic benefits. County documents cite the USS Oriskany, an 888-foot vessel sunk off Pensacola in 2006, as a comparison. The Oriskany attracts over 10,000 divers annually, generating approximately $3.6 million per year in direct spending as of 2015.
A University of Florida study estimates that every dollar spent on artificial reefs generates $7 in economic benefits for the local economy, with larger projects potentially yielding greater returns.
- The county anticipates this project will attract higher-spending, lower-impact visitors beyond the traditional 100-day summer season.
Ecologically, the artificial reef will create new habitats for marine life, potentially increasing fish populations and biodiversity. This is expected to benefit both commercial and recreational fishing in the area.
The increased fish populations and improved catches are anticipated to attract more recreational anglers, who contribute to the local economy through spending on equipment, boat rentals, fuel, and charters.
Project Details
The county has identified three active permitted areas (Large Area Artificial Reef Sites A, B and C) that can accommodate the SS United States, all less than 25 miles from shore. These sites offer depths and clearance requirements suitable for divers of various skill levels, from beginners to technical divers.
Of the $9 million budget, $1 million is allocated for the ship’s purchase. The county has until September 12 to complete due diligence, which began in early August. Closing is set to occur on or before October 4, 2024.
- An agreement with the pier operator must be entered into by October 4, with the goal of completing this sooner.
The SS United States Conservancy, the current owner, has committed to developing a land-based museum in conjunction with the artificial reef, which would serve to continue the iconic vessel’s legacy and provide non-divers the opportunity to learn about “America’s Flagship” and its rich history.
Okaloosa County will provide up to $1 million for museum-related costs, including property purchase, construction, or renovation of an existing building/property for the museum and its exhibits.
- The details of the museum project and terms of an agreement are to be separately developed and negotiated within twelve months of the SS United States purchase.
Timeline and Next Steps
If approved on September 3, the county will proceed with finalizing agreements for remediation, transport, deployment, and museum development. Environmental due diligence is ongoing, with initial test results described as favorable.
County staff have identified potential funding partners and expect significant cost-sharing to reduce the overall expense. To date, they believe they have secured $5 million in partnership contributions.
- All future contracts and funding agreements will be presented to the Board for consideration and approval in accordance with established thresholds.
Comparison to USS Oriskany
At 990 feet, the SS United States would surpass the USS Oriskany (888 feet) as the world’s largest intentional artificial reef. The Oriskany, sunk in 2006, continues to attract divers and generate economic benefits nearly two decades later.
- Okaloosa County aims to build on this success, positioning Destin-Fort Walton Beach as a premier destination for diving and marine tourism.
The presence of two of the world’s largest artificial reefs in northwest Florida is expected to solidify the region’s status as a top destination for scuba diving and fishing activities.
Historical Significance
The SS United States, known as “America’s Flagship,” represents a pinnacle of American naval engineering. It was designed to be convertible to a troop ship if needed, capable of transporting 14,000 troops for 10,000 miles without refueling. The ship set speed records on its maiden voyage in 1952, using only two-thirds of its power.
Built as part of a top-secret Cold War program, the SS United States was designed to be the world’s fastest and safest ship. Its true performance figures were kept secret for many years, but it’s known that on sea trials, it achieved a speed of over 38 knots (about 44 miles per hour).
- The ship carried four U.S. presidents and numerous celebrities during its service life.
With the acquisition of the SS United States, Okaloosa County aims to preserve a piece of maritime history while creating a unique attraction that could significantly boost the local economy and marine ecosystem.
When deployed, this project would cement Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s status as home to the world’s largest artificial reef, continuing its reputation as a premier fishing destination and further establishing it as the dive capital of Florida and the artificial reef capital of the United States.
117 Responses
This is BS!
What a relief . So tired of all the crap and preservation bs. If there wasn’t a project during a decade of zero interest rates there sure as hell won’t be at 8.5%. This hulk should have been scrapped or sunk years ago.
this ‘hulk’ represents our United States of America’s superiority
This is an outrage
You are so correct
The ship is a rusted out metal hull. The time to save it is past. Ships deteriorated like this and had to be scrapped. Thirty years is long enough to save it.
Sinking a historic ship is not “preserving” it
Agreed but the trust that held her wouldn’t let people tour her. They just wanted people to donate money. Last I read for an absurd amount of of donation someone could tour her. It was irresponsible of the trust to keep her behind a fence and off limits to the public, but still want the public to give money. Sad all the way around
I looked into the recent tours and they told
Me it would need to be at least $250 donation per person
Couldn’t do extensive tours do to the conditions of the ship and insurance regulations. The price was dropped to 500 per person for tours. They kept it behind a fence because it was still a working pier and homeland security type clearances were needed to enter the area. Did you want a bunch of homeless drug Philadelphians sneaking on board to live ?
Tours would have been great, but unfortunately the cost of liability insurance to allow it to become a true destination for people to tour likely far outweighed funds which could be brought in. I’d venture 98-99% of Americans have never heard of SS United States. Sadly until 5-6 years ago I never had and I’m now in my mid-40s. Naval ships fair better in popularity due to some of the military history behind them, think USS Missouri, USS Yorktown, USS The Sullivans etc. United States 100% holds a page in history, but doubtful enough to ever attract enough visitors to see an empty hull.
I’ve been aboard her – both sailing on her as a boy and 5 years ago in Philadelphia as a guest of the Conservancy. You have to understand that there is nothing to tour. Every single thing on that ship was stripped and removed for the auction in the early 1980s. There are no doors, there are a few walls, there is nothing to indicate where beds or sinks were in different cabins, and it is a very dangerous thing to walk around. Even trying to open it for tours would’ve required staggering amounts of insurance because it’s not the Queen Mary. Big U has been gutted. Money requested by the Conservancy was to try to find her a permanent home – above water.
I’ll never forget a grammer school trip to see her when she was in NY. A few of us actually got lost on her.
They could not secure the necessary liability insurance to set up tours.
Well neither is letting it rot without any plans whatsoever.
They had plans, but nobody would step up to save this piece of our history. It is so sad. We saved the Queen Mary from England, but can’t save our own. And yes I know it’s been gutted, but the time was after they took the asbestos out and before they were forced to auction off all the interior to step up and save her. We have preserved many historical things that cost more than making her into a convention center/hotel/tourist attraction. Nobody wanted to go to Long Beach, CA before they got the Queen Mary and (for a time) Howard Hugh’s Spruce Goose.
It was this or off to the scrap yard. Which do you think is a better way for this rusted out hulk to go?
Scrap . This is the greatest ocean liner the world has ever scene. The Queen Elizabeth caught fire & sank ( Seawise University) .The great liner the Normandie caught fire in NY while docked & sank . The France was scrapped
The Titanic sank . The Queen Mary is still dignified in Longbeach
Sending her voluntarily to the bottom of the ocean is in dignifying . Unheroic I’m an attorney
Let’s file suit to stop the sale immediately
Nick P
You go and file that suit, I’m right behind you… really!
You said it!
I can appreciate your enthusiasm but Nick that ship has been sitting there for a long time. How come no one has done it since…. I don’t think it should be sunk. I think it should be restored and used as veteran housing or something. Anything. That’s a sad future for our” flagship”
This is an outrage. Metro piece of American Maritime History being eradicated
File a petition to stop
I don’t disagree. I’ve been following this story for decades now. I can wish all I want that some favorable solution s forthcoming. Short of a coalition of billionaires chipping in large chunks of cash (maybe for a one-time tax write off approved by Congress) plus some kind of ongoing funding for O&M, I am at a loss as to how to “fix this.”
Do you have any viable, realistic suggestions? Who is going to foot the bill for this? After all, no one disagrees this is a piece of history that once gone, is gone for good. Its all aluminum hull, its Blue Riband status, its historical significance, and its symbol of US Maritime History? Like the USS Constitution. Does it serve any practical use today? Of course not. That doesn’t mean we chop it up for firewood.
But, again, someone has to come up with the cash. And, at the level of cash needed for this endeavor, you really need to look at either billionaires and dangling a tax cut in front of them or go to Congress and plead the case that this is “of significant historical interest” and to fund its preservation.
Personally, if the world were an ideal place, I could see it as a “Goodwill” type of vessel, making port calls around the world, making humanitarian stops, providing “2nd responder” care such as power, water purification, limited medical care, communications, infrastructure support, and all that, to disaster-struck areas. She’s fast, and could be made faster with a modern engine retrofit. Yes, you could build a far more modern vessel that functionally would do a better job at a fraction of the cost but she would not be the SS United States, would she?
This could be an extension of something like the Peace Corp or USAID or something along those lines. And, what better Public Relations for the kids in these countries but to look out into the harbor and see the SS United States helping them instead of an aircraft carrier (nothing wrong with those, either). Civilian aid vs. military aid.
Here’s the deal: How many times have we done something we later regretted? Once we turn her into a reef, there is no going back. And, if you want a reef, there any number of ships being retired and heading the the scrap yard that would work just as well as the SS United States for such a purpose. The reef idea comes across to me as a last-ditch effort to keep her from being scrapped, a far more ignominious end, admittedly.
Like most other problems in the world, “Show me the money.”
Better than cutting up for scrap
Usually they grind them up into razor blades. This would be better.
Obviously, reefing it IS the onliest remaining end for her. With a proper museum nearby, and the ship herself within daylight and range of recreational divers, she will continue to welcome visitors and provide jobs and cultural and historic enlightenment for another century, or more.
This is an outrage
Why do you say that?
The ss United States was a very historic ocean liner and she one of the only remaining of her kind. She held the transatlantic speed record for 60 years! She could also go at speeds of 44 mph or more. That’s fast for a ship if you don’t know that.
Probably the best outcome for the ship. It doesn’t generate enough income to pay it’s bills, it’s been evaluated countless times to see if it’s viable to put it back in service, it has largely been stripped. The only real option is sink it or sell it for scrap. At least if it’s an artificial reef it can generate income.
You are a voice of reason, here. If it is reefed and a suitable museum is erected nearby, the ship will continue to provide historic insight, tourism, jobs, and just plain entertainment for another century or more. Consider how RMS Titanic is still sufficiently intact for visitors now a hundred-twelve years after she went down. Unfortunately, she’s in twelve-thousand feet of water, but this vessel will lie where daylight and recreational divers can visit and explore her.
What kind of pollution can leech from this ship into the environment?
The Tourism Development Department of Okaloosa County always takes into account the effects on the environment. This is not their first rodeo. They have been deploying these artificial reefs for decades. They strip the vessels of every nonmetallic piece. The only thing left is always the hull. The hard metal surface is perfect structure for marine species including a nice hard space for sponges and corals to settle. So this would be awesome for Destin-Fort Walton Beach!
They strip the ship and make sure no fluids are left on board. In some cases they will either seal off with concrete or make sure the fuel tanks are cleaned and stripped of any oil contamination before scuttling her.
Fuel oil, asbestos, lubricants.
That’s done during the remediation process before a ship is ever taken out in and sunk for a reef.
Vessels to be intentionally sunk for artificial reefs are meticulously remediated to high environmental standards to prevent this very thing from happening.
What kind of pollution can leech into the environment from this vessel?
No more than any of the other 1000s of sunken ships around the planet
It’s nothing but a metal and aluminum shell. There is no fuel or oil on board. Just like every other ship sunk for diving.
Aluminum is metal.
There are more than 3000 Japanese ships sunk in WW2 in the south Pacific….
Most carried tons of oil and fuel to their watery grave
Iron oxide, I hate the idea of the reef but it seems to be the only practical one. It would cost a fortune to refit her, not to mention going through all the legal hoops, to take on passengers and Insurance. Then there are the eco killjoy’s that would try to have it converted into a EV. And that’s just the begaining of the insanity. Even if it didn’t move on its own making it a restaurant or school would be expensive. And you still have the dock fees every month. Yup the truth frequently sucks!
I cannot fathom this (no pun intended). She is an icon of the USA. I can neither understand nor accept that with the USA’s gigantic military budget, that some funding could not be found to preserve and restore this icon. Imagine if the Statue of Liberty needed restoration? Would the only option be scrap or sink?
Scuttling her is not preserving her.
This is a travesty.
Well said! Terrible end to her life.
The Statue of Liberty did need restoration and did get it with private funding.
Amen, this is a Tragedy.
You’re kidding! After all the years, money, and work the conservancy dedicated to saving this historic ship, it’s just going to be sunk to use it as a reef instead of making it into a museum. It should be docked in New York City next to the Intrepid. Only in America do we let historic icons disappear and never to be seen again.
That last line is an unmitigated slur, and obviously, you have never sought out any of the scores of museums which feature recovered or restored ships and airplanes. All four Iowa-class battleships, for instance, are open as museums and tourist attractions, as are several older ones including the South Dakota class Massachusetts and Alabama. The older battleship Texas is still in use as a museum, as are USS Midway in San Diego and several of the Essex-class aircraft carriers.
Scratch your head for a moment and consider the continuing existence of USS Arizona.
When it comes to airplanes, I suggest you investigate the Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola and the Air Force museums in Dayton and near Omaha. Essentially every aircraft ever used by the armed forces are there, restored and on display.
You may have noticed the recent stories of the Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy steam locomotive, which is currently touring the country, fully restored and under her own power and dragging a long train with her. Many other railroad locomotives have either been restored for use or as museum pieces.
Look around for auto museums, where you’ll find Packards and Duesenbergs and V-16 Cadillacs and Pierce Arrows and literally hundreds of other historic makes.
You’ll even find things like now-ancient buildings and other structures which are preserved, updated to remain safe, and in use. You can still visit Independence Hall in Philly and Mount Vernon and Monticello.
Fact is: SS United States was more of a curiosity than an actual historic breakthrough. She featured some modern improvements and was specifically designed to be fast for her day. Other than this, she was not particularly noteworthy.
She had nowhere near the colorful history of, for instance, RMS Queen Mary, which transported tens of thousands of troops in both directions across the North Atlantic, some of these during an ongoing war. Queen Mary was never allowed to fall to ruin, and to this day she is a fun hotel, convention and meeting site, tourist attraction to include tours of the engine rooms and supposedly haunted spaces, and there are two fine restaurants aboard her.
What happened to SS United States is very simple. The purpose for which she was built ceased to exist, and no other use for her made any sense. Keeping her in service was both economically and technologically impossible, and she was abandoned.
Making her into a living reef, still in daylight and accessible to visitors, is the best thing which could be done with her. She’ll continue to serve in this way for another century, or more.
You are right, Bill. Remember all those historic monuments that were torn down because they were viewed as offensive by a small minority of people. Those in power who could have stopped attempts to erase our history turned a blinds eye to what was happening.
Yes a blind eye by the Biden and Harris administration, those historical statues from the Civil War. They were torn down or destroyed for one reason only
“THEY OFFEND ME” which is a sorry a** excuse to destroy anything..
Those statues were in honor of all the soldiers who fought, died or were injured in the bloodiest war in American history. At least some of those historic monuments were saved and were put in museums so everybody could view them and remember the bloodiest war in American history..
Just like that SS United States some of it has been saved and will be in a museum hopefully, while the rest of it will lie at the bottom of the ocean as The largest man-made barrier reef, so ocean life can live or seek safety in it, also for tourism and for scuba divers to explore.. While protecting sea life and hopefully protecting the Florida coast line from destructive hurricanes that often hit Florida..
Sorry I didn’t mean for this comment to be so long..
I love fort Walton beach and I go there every year but please for the sake of history don’t sink it. I means seriously is all you think about tourism. This is just bs!
This is tragic. No one could save this ship? One of the presidential candidates should have coughed up some money, and then the headline would read ” candidate name saves the United States.” Talk about a headline.
I agree Chuck – I would vote for any one one who would honor this country and save the SS United States, which brought my parents and I to this country as immigrants. I was 13 years old in 1963 and needless to say my family and I have loved the United States (the ship and the Country) for the past 61 years! I am still alive at age 74 and would do anything and vote for anyone who would Save the SS United States.
Yes, would have, should have, could have saved it. But it’s a little late for that now. I wish it would have been saved by some presidential candidate, it would have made big headlines. But like I said it’s a little late for that now..
I agree.
Sending it to the bottom is a burial at sea.
About 15 years ago I spent several hours aboard the SS United States, touring and photographing her. My impression was that she would never be restored and sailed again. Sadly, I was right.
To Susan Gibbs. My sincere condolences. You have worked so hard and so long to save our beautiful Flagship! You haven’t failed. Virginia failed to share your vision. Your Grandfather would be proud of you! Thank you for keeping her alive for us.
I sailed on this ship in February 1957 from England to NYC as an infant when we emigrated to canada
What an absolute shame to send this beautiful work of earlier maritime engineering to the very last place it was designed to go.
This is Terrible!
It’s a sad end for the Big U.
Why sink that rust-bucket in such a beautiful area? Being from Philadelphia, I’ve seen that hulk for several years simply sitting there. And having been a resident of FWB, I would rather see this eyesore go somewhere else…like physical junk yard (piece-wise) and turn it into razor blades.
Shut up you jerk, you dont get it at all
this is awesome news for divers. i hope it is closer than the oriskany – that’s a great dive, but it’s a long way out
Shameful sinking but a much better option than cutting it up for scrap
Sad day but the way the the country is headed.
I own a plank of the ship I’m definitely not in favor of sinking her why not spend those millions to make a hotel etc
My Grandfather helped build this ship. I personally knew her Master of 14 years (Commodore Leroy Alexanderson of the United States Lines). It’s sad that neither the America or United States could be saved yet a British Liner has been kept up in Long Beach for decades. But better a reef than the scrap yard! Thank you Susan Gibbs.
There is some question how well the Queen Mary has been maintained.
Last time I did a photo
Just so everyone is clear, this ship has been gutted down to the studs. All of the interior character defining features are gone. None of the mid-century charm remains.
In years to come when you can just see Ocean liners in books, people will say…Why did they sink her with the incredible history she has!! What a stupid thing to do!!! The scuba divers have plenty of wrecks to dive to! This is Rificulous!
I join the conversation as a former 14-year-old passenger on my first trip to Europe. If the original owners (read “investors”) of the decommissioned ship had any national pride or sense of history–instead of merely the expectation of making a profit by holding on to her without investing anything in her preservation–she could have rivaled the popularity of the Queen Mary (still a tourist attraction in Long Beach, CA since 1967.)
Good riddance… it’s been an eye sore in South Philly forever… it will be 1% less ghetto looking now
Shut up
For a small fraction of the money they was on foreign aid , the Government could return her to.service ! As a Show Piece of American Engineering!
Should be a hotel a restaurant tow to Milwaukee or Manitowoc we will take her. Incredible waste and lost opportunity. Tragic.
I was a passenger in 1969 for a crossing from New York to Southhampton. It was an
exciting journey for a 14 year old boy! Though I don’t think scuttling it is my number one choice, there are few options. As a member of the society, I have contributed financially to its preservation and am sad that other options are not viable. As I am not a diver, I will not see her below the surface, but may go to Florida to see her go to her final resting place!
My father was one to help weld this ship together. I remember touring her at six years old. Mamie Eisenhower christened her and I was there. Seems like yesterday, makes me feel old that this ship is ready to be retired to the gulf’s bottom.
So unfortunate that she could not be restored. I spent my 11th birthday on that ship.
Load the 20 million Illegals in our country onboard, tow it out to sea and drop anchor before election day
Are you planning on stepping up to do hard labor jobs for low wages when they are no longer here? Are you going to be moaning on how much everything costs, because most citizens won’t work in the jobs they do.
I hope this never happens to the Queen Mary that’s an iconic ship.
Probably most of the naysayers aren’t even residents of this area. As a diver of more than 50 years and a resident of Pensacola for longer. It will be an economic boom for the area and a fitting end for a ship that can no longer serve it’s purpose. We should go for it.
This is unfortunate. As others have said, it would cost a fortune to retrofit her for any purpose. Even as a “goodwill” ship to represent the USA, she is a bit dated, even if $1B was spent to modernize her. Her configuration is such that she is designed for crossings, not cruisings. She’s not really designed to be turned into a hospital ship. She might make a good “second response” to a natural disaster providing food, water desalination, electricity, communications, and such to a coastal city that experienced a natural disaster. And, moored in a harbor, she would make quite the statement. But, a Billion Dollar statement?
Reality is a brand new ship could be purpose-built that would do all those functions at a fraction of the cost to retrofit the SS United States.
Still, I hope this is thought through. Once she is gone, she is gone forever. There’s no refloating her.
My mother and father were on her Maiden voyage when I was 8 Years old .I still remember the excitement when She left the dock… a great Era in our Country’s history. !!!
As with other ships that were recently sunk by the Navy in live fire drills off of Hawaii, WHY NOT RECYCLE the steel. I get the historical significance, but we REALLY need the steel in the U.S. China is buying up ALL the (copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, brass, silver, gold, and iron) metals that it can in an attempt to make it difficult for the rest of the world in the event of war? I wish that the U.S. would wake up and really see what is happening.
I believe the ship should be saved and restored. We have the money for all kind of crazy things. How about restoring a ship so significant to the United States and our history. as far as anybody in Philadelphia, who believes it’s an eyesore and should be taken care of… maybe you ought to learn your history and get a little bit of patriotism in our country. Being from the area. I see the ship all the time and I really wish that we would do something positive with it. I vote for restoring it and making it veterans housing, put medical facilities and everything on it. Think of how many veterans you could help…veterans deserve the help and what a great repurposing.
The Conservancy has done everything it could to find a suitor to repurpose America’s Flagship, for decades. It’s worth reviewing the lengthy post-service history and multiple failed efforts to restore her former glory before passing judgment. While disappointing, this was the only remaining possibility to ensure her future in the public imagination.
To start with it might be wise to explain to the curious what an artificial reef exactly is. Secondly, how do divers reach the artificial reef if it is 20-25 miles off-shore? Can Okaloosa County have an exclusive say as to who is permitted dive in and around the reef? Would it be necessary for those planning to dive at the reef purchase some sort of diving permit from Okaloosa County? Would there be a vessel anchored in the vicinity of the reef to receive the boats carrying divers from Destin-Fort Walton Beach to the reef? In addition would there be first-aid personnel as well as food, beverage and toilet facilities on the vessel?
I’m getting ahead of myself in pondering how all of this reef project would come to fruition and hopefully become asset for the good people of Okaloosa County.
The seabed in this area of the Gulf of Mexico is basically a desert as there are very few natural rock formations, which are needed by marine corals to form a reef. This ship will be sunk to the bottom and become an oasis in that desert for the benefit of a cornucopia of marine life… from corals and sponges all the way up to sharks & dolphins. In that regard it’s an environmental benefit.
You get to a dive site in your boat or a chartered boat. Drop anchor and in you go. The location, and therefore the water depth, is not precisely know yet, but depth will determine the time you’ll be able to stay down there exploring.
There is nothing to see. Imagine a rusting empty warehouse with nothing useful left in it. Everything removable was stripped and auctioned off. I understand the emotional response to preserve it in all its former glory, that’s just not financially possible.
That’s not even getting into hull integrity, dry dock (if there’s one left that can handle it), fuel removal and other environmental remediation.
Salt water eats metal. You’ve got to have a steady income stream to be able to do maintenance. Most naval museums (USS YORKTOWN, USS NORTH CAROLINA, etc.) are joint state-private ventures. Even a battleship like the NORTH CAROLINA had hull integrity issues above the mud where she’s been sitting in brackish water since mid century.
The SS UNITED STATES was not ornately appointed like the TITANIC. She was typically mid century American utilitarian.
The best thing that could possibly be done with this ship at this point is to make her a reef. At least a more dignified end than being cut up for scrap.
The SS United States was designed and built precisely NOT to be ornate. After the SS Normandie caught fire and sunk at the pier in New York, it was determined there would not be anything flammable on her. I believe the only thing that had a little wood was a piano. Also, our military funded and helped build her. The Navy incorporated many secret things in her, as she was to be available to be turned into a troop ship, if needed. She was not ever used as one.
She had many good years ahead of her, but the airlines started flying Jets and it was faster and more affordable to fly.
Take a moment and log on to ABANDONEDAMERICA.US and look around at the many current photos of this ship and you will see that she is beyond repair. Burial at sea seems likely.
I was on the ship with my parents in 1967 from New York to Cherbourg France. I am sad to see that happening.
Sinking is not preserving. I have had the pleasure to look at her since 2000. It is sad and angering to see the Miss United States talked about being sink. Sinking a ship is destroying a ship NOT preserving it!
Whilst in the US Navy , l was on the USS Shreveport LPD12 . Our capt mostly came into Norfolk Army piers witch were south of the D&S piers. I always saw the SS United States moored there. 1972 to 1975. She has sterting to rust then. She is classy lady.
Do you idiots know that the inside of the ship has been stripped of all value.. artifacts, mahogany, etc….its an empty shell……the strippers are the bad guys, that’s why no one will restore it…..there is nothing to restore anymore… ..time to sink it.
I, for one love this idea, I am a diver, my wife is a diver and my kids will join us as divers when they are old enough. I was just in Destin the summer of 2024 and an artificial reef like this would do wonders for the marine life and surrounding waters. I dove two much smaller artificial reefs and it was a giant nursery for several different kids of fish. Not to mention when coral starts to live on the ship it will improve the marine ecosystem. 70% of the world oxygen comes form coral reefs.
Once the museum is open I will use that opportunity to educate my family of the rich history of the SS United States. Then I will take them below the waves to see her for themselves and help them to experience the aw and wonder of her size and be thankful that in her second life she is providing an ecological sanctuary for marine life.
Years ago I ended up with part of this ship’s silver service… I don’t remember how. It’s all disappeared after all these years, but I DO have a single small individual silver sauce or butter warmer. Make me an offer I can’t refuse, and it’s yours to remember her by. Send me an email or text number and I’ll send a photo…
This is an absolute disgrace! The west coast has the Queen Mary as a hotel/tourist attraction. Yet the dump city of Philadelphia lets americas ship rot and now get sunk!’
This is sad and awful, bring her back to her home, nyc…..this is only ship built in USA GOR USA WITH WORLDS SOEED TECORD..how can we sink her, this is sad and disscarceful. We should preserve this county’s monument..,
Not sure what those words mean when you said “USA GOR USA WITH WORLDS SOEED TECORD”.??????
I was a truck driver that frequented the port in Philly where she was at for over a decade and saw the http://www.USSUnitedStates.com banner hanging on her side for those who might be interested in donating to her preservation. I guess not enough people were interested at the time. Maybe now would be a better time to see if the funds could be raised by those who are capable, but it seems inevitable that she’ll be “recommissioned”. Keep in mind that it would be a monumental task to search for similar internal items, artifacts and materials in order to really do it justice. Very Sad that an incredible piece of Americana has come to this.
I can’t believe all of the negative and ignorant comments on this site. I’m gonna scuba diving and structure. This will be a fantastic economic bone to the area. People don’t understand that when you put a ship down, it builds an ecosystem, consisting of coral Marine live fish, all manners of underwater creatures and fantastic sites. The rest of the world would love to have what we’re about to have happen in the Florida panhandle. I have scuba dived on the USS risk couple of times. If we don’t do this, the ships will be scrap for iron and you’ll be driving it or having Gas pipe through it somewhere. Please please please people research this before you make comments.
Proofread before you post man. What a mess!
It would have been nicer if Okaloosa County was purchasing the SS United States for an above-water attraction that people could see docked along the shoreline as the SS United States Conservancy truly wants for the ship, but barring that, reefing her is the next most-dignified outcome for the vessel. At least it will finally put an end to this 45-year old drama!
Scraping ships, cars, subway cars, tanks, planes, etc into the ocean for the sake of reef building is idiotic reasoning. As an avid recreational SCUBA diver I dive on reefs and wrecks all over the world. Every time I dive a man made ship wreck turned wanna build a reef I say to myself this is such flawed reasoning! Why are we polluting our oceans with scrap metal and junk? A natural reef can be built with materials much more conducive (and friendlier to the environment) than metal and rust. Fish like cover, concealment and a sense of security from standing structures. Certainly an aging ocean liner would provide these attributes – but at what cost of the environment? There are more efficient and less pollutive ways to build a natural reef. It takes time – a long time – to build a natural, standing reef. These drop a piece of scrap metal into the ocean are only quick fixes to a longer term solution and a money grab – lets generate money for the locals. Stupid logic. Lets stop this inane practice of polluting our oceans.
By the way – ship breaking is a viable, profitable commercial industry, usually dominated by SE Asian firms. These companies can completely dismantle, consume and recycle all parts, materials and metals on a given vessel with minimal impacts to the local environment. There are a variety of alternative measures to decommissioning and disposing of aged ships and vessels – sinking them into our oceans will be banned soon.
I say: “Let it loose in Okaloosa”
there’s hardly ever been enough interest in the ship, historical significance & all, to make-worthwhile, efforts to keep her afloat – she’s gutted, on deadline & her use as a needed reef in Fla is a good one imo
I understand the deal with RXR has a real chance. It collapsed because the Governor of New York refused to issue the permits necessary to bring her to New York where she belongs. Sad indeed.
The Democrat governor of New York state and the Democrats socialist in office don’t want to spend money on America or Americans they want to spend money on illegals where American taxpayers have to flip the bill for illegals to stay in the US. Hopefully they all get deported..
since none of them came here legally and a lot of illegals are criminals, committing crimes against Americans and against the USA ,
vote for Republicans so they can hopefully save America if it’s not to late ,from the Democrats communist agenda against Americans..
I wrote a longer message which disappeared from the comment website but I hope this one will register. This is my second comment on this website. Please hold the Conservancy responsible for building a museum to honor and celebrate SS United States. They have done nothing to honor the ship in Philadelphia, except pay for its port fees on the Delaware River. Millions have been donated to save it. Now it’s time to honor it on land. Even the Titanic has a museum in Ireland to honor the ship. It is time to honor and celebrate our SS United States! Although I live in Philadelphia, I hope your county will benefit from millions of tourist dollars from the Museum and reef diving to see a true miracle of American ingenuity from a beautiful ship that didn’t sink in its voyages.
Let me get this straight…..The ship has been sitting idle at a pier in Philadelphia for more than thirty years while one scheme after another failed to materialize. The ship has been stripped clean and has no commercial value other than which might be realized if sold for scrap. The organization that owns the hulk has no money and is under a court order to vacate the berth by September 12. A week from now the ship’s owners will be begging the scrap yards to take possession of the ship just to get out from under the court order. So one might ask……..What is Okaloosa County thinking? They’re offering $8 million tax payer dollars to buy the ship, then pay for its pre-sinking remediation, pay for its sinking and then build a museum that no one will visit.
It’s becoming the world’s largest man-made barrier reef so that it will hopefully protect the Florida coastline from destructive hurricanes which destroys eco systems ,homes, buildings and coast lines which costs hundreds of millions or billions of dollars, and be part of a tourism industry like fishing and scuba divers training or for entertainment and explore it as well as being a sanctuary for sea life to expand.
So yes 8 million will eventually be worth it in the long run..
Since it’s in the process of being sold, the courts might give an extension.
Wrecks don’t stop hurricanes. Hurricanes moves wrecks around.
I had always hoped they would fix it up like the Queen Mary in Long Beach California. My niece stayed there a couple months ago for a Mystery Weekend. She really thought it was cool! The Spruce Goose is also on the pier in Long Beach….a big tourist spot! I guess we missed out!