PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The SS United States, a retired ocean liner that for decades was a fixture of the Philadelphia waterfront, is on its way to a new home—at the bottom of the ocean.
Anyone who has driven down Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia has likely seen the massive vessel. Warren Jones was eight years old when he boarded the SS United States for a trip to Europe.
“It was unforgettable. I had never experienced anything like it. Never experienced anything since then like it,” he recalled. That experience was so memorable for Jones that he spent years admiring the ship while sitting on the board of the SS United States Conservancy, which purchased the ship in 2011 to save and repurpose it.
“[The SS United States] is probably the most innovative product that America has ever come together and built. She used products, fixtures and furnishings from every state in the union,” said Jones.
“She was built with 3,100 pairs of American workers’ hands. She carried four U.S. presidents, ambassadors [and] heads of state.”
But for the last three decades, the 990-foot ocean craft has sat stagnant at its mooring on the Delaware River, silent and rusting, a far cry from its glory days. Attempts to rehab the vessel into a hotel, a casino and a museum have failed.
What's next for America's flagship
On Wednesday, after years of uncertainty, the ship departed on its last voyage, after a couple minor delays due to high winds. First, it’ll make a stop in Mobile, Alabama, to remove any toxic materials. The vessel will then embark on a two-week voyage to its new home, about 20 miles off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, in Okaloosa County, Florida.
🚢 MORE: Track the progress of the SS United States on its last voyage
There it will be sunk to the ocean floor and become part of the world’s largest artificial reef, along with more than 50 other pieces.
“The plant forms and the sea life that will be generated within the walls of that ship [are] tremendous,” said Jones.
Okaloosa County, Florida, has had its eye on the SS United States for a number of years, says Jennifer Adams, director of tourism.
“We have a five-year artificial reef plan,” she said. “Barnacles will be on her in a matter of days, and then the fishery will adapt. We hope to have her really functioning with all kinds of sea creatures in about six months to a year.”
The ship’s interactions will not be limited to sea creatures, she said. “The entire dive community is ready for her to come home so they can take our visitors out there.”
One last goodbye
As the SS United States left its Delaware River port for the last time, several people parked their cars and hopped out, hoping to catch one final glimpse of the oceanliner, which arrived in Philly from Ukraine in 1996.
“The ship's been here since I was about seven years old, ... and I really wanted to see it move,” said Jillian Johnson of Northeast Philly. “I wish I could have been on it at some point.”
Robert Wasiuta also got out of his car to witness the ship move for the first time in his life. “I just happened to get out of work and I [saw] it on social media,” he said. “I always remember it being here like for as long as I was alive."
Frank Falkow said he would miss the regular sight of the vessel on the waterfront. “It's nothing like coming down to IKEA or to any of the shops across the street looking over and seeing this massive ship,” he said.
“It'll be sad next time I come down this way and don't see it,” said Johnson.
“It's gonna be weird not seeing it down here,” said Wasiuta, “but they weren't really doing anything with it, so it's gonna be put to good use.”
Officials in Okaloosa have also planned to build a museum for the ship to remember its past.