Coastal Resources

Okaloosa delays SS United States Departure to Feb. 19 due to weather

Historic ocean liner's movement rescheduled due to high winds along Delaware River

Jared Williams

Weather conditions have forced another delay in moving the SS United States from Philadelphia, with officials now planning a Feb. 19 departure due to persisting high wind conditions.

Okaloosa County officials announced Monday the 990-foot vessel will begin its journey down the Delaware River at 12:51 p.m., timing the move with low tide. Tugboats will position the ship off Pier 80 about three hours before departure.

The delay marks the second schedule change this month. Officials previously postponed the ship’s Feb. 8 departure to address Coast Guard requirements, then set a Feb. 17 departure date.

The ocean liner will travel to Mobile, Ala., for a yearlong preparation process before becoming the world’s largest artificial reef off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coast.

Plans call for deploying the ship about 20 nautical miles south of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. It will surpass the USS Oriskany, an 888-foot aircraft carrier sunk off Pensacola in 2006, as the world’s largest artificial reef.

The public can track the ship’s two-week journey to Mobile through GPS monitoring on the Destin-Fort Walton Beach website.

The historic vessel has remained in Philadelphia since 1996. It still holds the transatlantic speed record set during its 1952 maiden voyage.

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