A HISTORIC cruise ship bigger than the Titanic will be sunk on purpose to create the world’s largest artificial reef – if it can complete its final journey.
Officials reportedly fear that the ocean liner – left to rot in Philadelphia for decades – could crash into a landmark bridge during its last voyage.
Once considered the fastest cruise liner in the world, the 900-ft long SS United States was originally constructed in the 1950s to move troops during wartime.
It later carried dignitaries and celebrities, including John F. Kennedy and Walt Disney, across the Atlantic.
But it changed hands many times before the ship was eventually left to sit dormant in Philadelphia – where it has been since 1996.
It was supposed to leave its home in Philadelphia’s Pier 82 some weeks ago, for a long journey to Alabama and eventually Destin, Florida.
Its journey was postponed because of heavy storms in the Gulf of Mexico – and has now been halted because of a fresh major concern.
Sources told CBS that there are fears it could smash into the huge Walt Whitman Bridge over the Delaware River in Philadelphia.
They revealed how the height of the ship’s features come within mere feet of the vast bridge.
And the Coast Guard is reportedly worried about whether the mammoth vessel can make it to Alabama in one piece.
However the Guard has said they are only waiting on more documents from Okaloosa County – who bought the ship for over $10million in October – before moving it.
And The Delaware River Port Authority, which operates and maintains local bridges, said in a statement: “At this time, we have not been informed of any changes to the previously established clearances or received notice of differences that could affect our bridges.”
The owners of the derelict 1,000-foot ship were previously ordered to find the historic vessel a new home after they stopped paying rent in 2021.
Officials revealed ambitious plans to tow the ship from Philadelphia to Destin’s Fort Walton Beach.
There, it is set to be sunk to provide a new habitat for marine life and attract divers and anglers from around the globe.
The ambitious plans were drawn up by officials in Okaloosa County, Florida and the SS United States Conservancy, the organization dedicated to preserving the vessel.
In a statement, Okaloosa County emphasised the environmental and economic potential of the project, saying: “The sunken ship will be a home for a diverse range of marine life and attract divers and anglers from around the world.”
But before the SS United States can be submerged, a lengthy cleanup process is required.
The county estimates that it will take over a year to complete environmental remediation on the ship, with an additional six months to a year needed to arrange for its transportation and final deployment.
But now, if the current plan succeeds, the ship will offer a new life as a habitat for marine species.
It could also generate millions in tourism revenue, benefiting local businesses like scuba shops, fishing charters, and hotels.
“This will be an exciting addition to our artificial reefs and wrecks, and will provide essential habitat for fish,” said Jennifer Adams, Okaloosa County’s tourism director.
The project also includes plans to open a land-based museum honouring the ship’s history, funded by Okaloosa County and operated by the SS United States Conservancy.
SS United States timeline
THE SS United States is a historic ocean liner that was launched in 1952 and became an icon of transatlantic travel, known for its impressive speed and luxury.
Here’s a timeline of its history:
1940s-1950s: Conception and Construction
- 1941: U.S. government commissions ship designer William Francis Gibbs to design the SS United States as part of a post-World War II naval project. The ship is intended to serve as both a luxury liner and a troop transport.
- 1950: Construction begins at Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia.
- 1952: The SS United States is completed, costing approximately $78 million (partly funded by the U.S. government). The ship is designed to be the fastest and safest ocean liner ever built, with the ability to convert into a troop carrier if needed.
1952: Record-Breaking Maiden Voyage
- July 3, 1952: The SS United States sets sail on her maiden voyage from New York to Southampton, England. She breaks the transatlantic speed record, crossing in just 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes, capturing the coveted Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic.
1950s-1960s: Golden Years
- 1952-1969: The SS United States serves as the pride of American ocean liners, transporting heads of state, celebrities, and high-profile passengers, including John F. Kennedy, Grace Kelly, and Walt Disney. The ship is renowned for its luxury, speed, and state-of-the-art design.
1969: End of Service
- 1969: With the rise of air travel, the SS United States becomes less profitable and is withdrawn from service. She completed her last commercial voyage on November 14, 1969.
1970s-1990s: Dormancy and Uncertain Future
- 1978: The ship is sold to private owners with the hope of converting it into a cruise liner, but the plan is never realised.
- 1984: The SS United States is stripped of its interior fittings in a bid to cut maintenance costs.
- 1992: Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the ship with the intent of refurbishing it as a cruise ship, but these plans also failed.
- 1996: The SS United States is towed to Philadelphia and docked there, where she has remained unused since.
2000s-present: Preservation Efforts and Future Planning
- 2003: The SS United States Conservancy was founded by Susan Gibbs (granddaughter of the ship’s designer) to preserve the vessel and find a sustainable future for it.
- 2011: The SS United States Conservancy purchased the ship for $3 million, preventing its scrapping.
- 2015: Crystal Cruises expresses interest in restoring the SS United States but ultimately abandons the project due to high costs.
- 2021: The owners of the derelict 1,000-foot ship stopped paying rent
- 2022: The dock owners terminated the lease in March 2022.
- 2024: A decision by U.S District Judge Anita Brody set that the SS United States’ owners will need to find the historic vessel a new home.
If all goes to plan, the SS United States will soon embark on its final voyage – this time, to become a unique underwater landmark and a beacon for marine conservation.
Once considered a beacon of American engineering, which once doubled as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops, the USS United States now sits as a reminder of a bygone era.
In it’s heyday, the ship boasted four separate classes of ticket, including first class, cabin class, tourist class and the most prestigious of all, suites, which included four beds, three bathrooms and a living room.
Christened in 1951, the once luxurious cruise ship still holds the transatlantic speed record after it reached 36 knots (41mph)
On its maiden voyage in 1952, the cruise ship crossed the Atlantic in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, beating the previous record by the RMS Queen Mary by 10 hours.
