Retired SS United States to become the world’s largest artificial reef
The last voyage of the SS United States is now underway, once its prepped and cleaned it will sink and become the world’s largest artificial reef.
The historic SS United States, the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic Ocean in either direction, has been anchored to a Philadelphia pier for nearly three decades. Despite recent rallying calls to President Donald Trump to save the larger-than-the-Titanic luxury vessel, the ship is finally going to meet its watery grave.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania motorists were advised of traffic pauses Wednesday afternoon as the Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry bridges, which tie Philadelphia to New Jersey, were slated to temporarily close as the beleaguered vessel was set be towed along the Delaware River below.
A New Jersey developer was among scores of owners who tried and failed to redevelop the passenger liner, with its fate ultimately in the hands of Florida officials — who plan to deliberately sink the ship to turn it into an underwater attraction.
Here’s the latest on the SS United States’ journey south and how its move was expected to impact New Jersey drivers.
SS United States move; how to track SS United States ship
The SS United States, a technological marvel when it hit the water in 1952 and broke the transatlantic speed record, was expected to leave Pier 80 in Philadelphia and begin its journey down the Delaware River around 12:51 p.m. Wednesday. The ship’s planned tow aligns with low tide.
The SS United States Conservancy, a nonprofit that previously owned the ship, was livestreaming the ship’s voyage on Wednesday. The stream can be viewed on its Facebook page here.
SS United States bridge closures in NJ
The Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry bridges were expected to briefly close Wednesday afternoon to allow the ship to pass through, according to the Delaware River Port Authority.
The Walt Whitman Bridge (I-76), which connects Philadelphia to Gloucester City in Camden County, was expected to close from 12:45 p.m. to 1 p.m. The Commodore Barry Bridge (U.S. 322), connecting Chester, Pennsylvania to Bridgeport in Gloucester County in New Jersey was slated to close from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Officials said the timing was subject to change based on weather and river conditions. Motorists were advised to check travel apps such as Google Maps and Waze.
SS United States will sink in Gulf of America
After three decades moored in Philadelphia, the SS United States is embarking on a two-week tow to Mobile, Alabama, where it will be repaired, before reaching its final destination in Destin, Florida.
The grand ocean liner — over 100 feet longer than the Titanic — will be purposely sunk off the coast of Florida, where it will turn into the “world’s largest artificial reef,” according to the Destin-Fort Waldon Beach tourism website. Officials in Okaloosa County bought the SS United States from the SS United States Conservancy for roughly $1 million in October 2024, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Florida officials plan to build a museum on land with the warm Gulf of America waters the site for an under-the-sea “immersive experience,” according to the website.
The Destin-Fort Walton Beach website has also deployed its own tracker on its website, which can be viewed here.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.
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Publish date : 2025-02-19 04:03:00
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