NEW DEPTHS
Abandoned cruise ship set to be SUNK in ambitious plan – but officials fear it could smash into bridge on epic journey
Officials revealed ambitious plans to tow the ship from Philadelphia to Florida's Destin-Fort Walton Beach
A HISTORIC cruise ship bigger than the Titanic will be sunk on purpose to create the world’s largest artificial reef.
But officials fear that the ocean liner - left to rot in Philadelphia for decades - could crash into one of the bridges during its last voyage.
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Once considered the fastest cruise liner in the world, the 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 after a series of ownership changes, the ship has sat dormant in Philadelphia since 1996, the subject of various failed revitalisation efforts.
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.
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Officials revealed ambitious plans to tow the ship from Philadelphia to Florida's Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
There, it would be sunk to provide a new habitat for marine life and attract divers and anglers from around the globe.
The SS United States had until September 12 to leave its berth on the Delaware River.
But while initially the mighty vessel could not be moved due to bad weather, new concerns suggest the vessel may smash into an iconic bridge built over the Delaware River.
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This is because the height of the ship's twin stacks comes within several feet of the Walt Whitman - and could potentially strike it when passing through.
The Delaware River Port Authority, which operates and maintains the 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."
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The plans to sink the ship on purpose were drawn by Okaloosa County, Florida, a local beach, 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.
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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.
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