Historic ocean liner begins voyage to become world’s largest artificial reef

The historic, ageing ocean liner that a Florida county plans to turn into the world’s largest artificial reef left south Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront on Wednesday, marking the opening segment of its final voyage.

The SS United States, a 1,000-feet vessel that shattered the transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, is being towed to Mobile, Alabama, for planned preparation work before officials eventually sink it off Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The move comes about four months after the conservancy that oversees the ship and its landlord resolved a years-old rent dispute. Officials initially planned to move the vessel last November, but that was delayed because of concerns from the US Coast Guard that the ship was not stable enough to make the trip.

Officials in Okaloosa County on Florida’s coastal Panhandle hope it will become a barnacle-encrusted standout among the county’s more than 500 artificial reefs and a signature diving attraction that could generate millions of dollars annually in local tourism spending for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels.

Officials have said the deal to buy the ship could eventually cost more than 10 million dollars (£7.9 million). The lengthy process of cleaning, transporting and sinking the vessel is expected to take at least 18 months.

The SS United States was once considered a beacon of American engineering, doubling as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops.

Its maiden voyage broke the transatlantic speed record in both directions when it reached an average speed of 36 knots, or just over 41mph (66kph), The Associated Press reported from aboard the ship.

The ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, beating the RMS Queen Mary’s time by 10 hours. To this day, the SS United States holds the transatlantic speed record for an ocean liner.

“The ship will forever symbolise our nation’s strength, innovation and resilience,” said Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of the naval architect who designed the vessel.

“We wish her ‘fair winds and following seas’ on her historic journey to her new home.”

The SS United States became a reserve ship in 1969 and later moved to various private owners who hoped to redevelop it. But they eventually found their plans too expensive or poorly timed, leaving the vessel looming for years on Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront.