The SS United States currently remains in Philadelphia as county officials work to satisfy U.S. Coast Guard requirements for the vessel’s stability, Okaloosa County Natural Resources Chief Alex Fogg told the Tourist Development Council Tuesday morning.
- The Coast Guard issued a Captain of the Port order in mid-November requiring additional documentation before the historic ocean liner can begin its journey from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Mobile, Alabama.
“We had to satisfy specific items within that order,” Fogg said. “One was to provide more information related to the tow plan, another was to prove that the contracted tugboats are capable of pushing around a vessel of this size, and probably the biggest sticking point was to prove that the vessel was stable enough to make it from Philadelphia all the way down to Mobile.”
The county has hired an independent naval architect to conduct onboard tests to calculate the vertical center of gravity which is essential in determining vessel stability. These tests will involve moving water between the vessel’s empty fuel tanks and measuring how much it lists to the port and starboard. These tests are scheduled for next week, with results expected to be submitted to the Coast Guard before the New Year.
- According to Fogg, the vessel was previously towed from the Mediterranean to Philadelphia in its current condition without incident. Despite this previous successful journey, the Coast Guard requires new stability data since the vessel’s existing documentation dates back to the 1950s.
Addressing recent media reports about project costs, Fogg clarified that the total $10.1 million budget, including $1 million specifically allocated for a land-based museum, remains unchanged. The project is funded through tourist development tax dollars, which by Florida law can only be used for specific purposes such as tourism promotion, beach improvements, and tourist attractions.
- These bed tax funds, collected from short-term lodging stays, are restricted by state statute and cannot be diverted to general county operations or other municipal services.
The county anticipates bringing forward several partnership agreements with private companies and neighboring counties in the coming months to help offset project costs. On Tuesday, the Escambia County Tourist Development Council approved contributing $1 million toward the project. The contribution still has to be approved by the Escambia Board of County Commissioners.
Despite recent delays, Fogg noted that the county is actually saving money because Philadelphia docking fees are less expensive than anticipated.
The county did incur a $100,000 fee for extending its stay at Pier 86 beyond December 14, following an initial $50,000 signing payment. However, Deputy County Administrator Craig Coffey said a new agreement has been negotiated and does not include any additional penalty fees.
Tourism Director Jennifer Adams emphasized that the project’s scope extends beyond creating an artificial reef.
- “Our mission was not to buy a vessel just to sink it,” Adams said. “We really view this as just another way to continue on with her legacy, particularly when the Conservancy puts up the museum.”
The vessel’s departure is now expected after the new year, though officials maintain the overall timeline for deployment offshore Destin-Fort Walton Beach remains on schedule for late 2025.
The SS United States, which holds the transatlantic speed record from its 1952 maiden voyage, will become the world’s largest artificial reef when deployed approximately 20 miles off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
For more updates on this artificial reef project: https://www.destinfwb.com/explore/eco-tourism/ssus/
