The SS United States has been in Mobile Alabama for the last 13 months undergoing a complete environmental remediation before being scuttled south of Okaloosa Pass, Florida. The 990-foot ship will become the world largest artificial reef.
According to official from Okaloosa Country, the ship is ready to go but they are waiting on final reviews from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The ship will be towed 22 miles into the Gulf where it will be scuttled and sunk. As a huge reef, it will attract a wide array of sea life and thus will be an attraction for fishermen and SCUBA divers.
Nick Tomacek, a spokesperson for Okaloosa Country, noted, “Once we get the final reviews from the federal agencies, we will set a 30 to 60 day window for deployment.”
The SS United States has a storied past. Built in the early Fifties as a joint venture with the U.S. Defense Department, the giant ship was capable of being converted into a troop carrier and could carry up to 10,000 troops up to 10,000 miles without refueling. At the height of the Coid War, such rapid troop movements were entire feasible.
On her maiden voyage across the North Atlantic, she set a speed record that stands today by making the crossing in 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes. She averaged an amazing 35 knots for the passage and earned the Blue Riband in recognition.
As the most glamorous American ship of her day, the SS United States carried many celebrities across the ocean including Walt Disney, Marlon Brando, Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and John Wayne.
The remediation process on the ship made it safe for it to lie in Gulf without giving off toxic chemicals. A total of 120 fuel tanks were removed, all of her ports and windows uninstalled, and the entire ship was stripped of paint.
It is expected that Okaloosa County will arrange for live streaming of the deployment and ultimate sinking since the event has captured the interest of ship lovers around the world. We’ll keep you posted.
