Progress Made Ahead of SS United States Departure from Philadelphia – Cruise Industry News

The U.S. Coast Guard has reported that positive progress has been made in the preparations for the SS United States’ departure from Philadelphia.

According to a report by CBS News, the ship is now closer to being safely towed away to Mobile, Alabama, where it will be prepared to be transformed into an artificial reef.

However, a date for the ship’s departure from Pier 82, where it has been docked for the past 29 years, has not yet been set.

CBS News said that experts are currently studying when the tide will be the most favorable to move the vessel, which will sail under the Walt Whitman Bridge on its way to the Atlantic.

Acquired by Florida’s Okaloosa County in 2024, the 1952-built former ocean liner will be sunk off the coast of Destin, Florida.

As part of a $10 million project that also includes the construction of a museum, is the ship is expected to become the world’s largest artificial reef.

After taking over the ship from the SS United States Conservancy, Okaloosa County planned to move the ship from Philadelphia last fall.

The departure was delayed by a tropical storm and last-minute safety concerns, which led to additional testing.

“Like most large, multi-faceted operations, this move involves coordination with multiple agencies, and dates, times and other logistics are subject to change to make certain the vessel is moved safely,” the county said at the time.

After leaving Philadelphia, the SS United States will travel via multiple tugboats to Mobile, where contractors will remove hazardous materials, including non-metal parts and fuel, to ensure the ship’s deployment is clean and not harmful to the environment it aims to benefit.

The process, which is expected to take approximately 12 months, will also include modifications to ensure that when the vessel is deployed, it will land upright underwater.