3 of 3 | SS The US is anchored at its current location on the Delaware River in South Philadelphia and is scheduled to begin its two-week trip to Mobile, Alabama on Saturday morning. Photo by Okaloosa County Tourism Development Department, Florida.
February 5th (UPI) – SS US is permitted to sail from South Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama, to become the world’s largest artificial reef in preparation for its final sinking in northwest Florida.
The ship is towed to mobile from a bed on the Delaware River in South Philadelphia, where it is ready for its final sinking on the Gulf Coast, 20 miles from Destin Fort Walton Beach.
The Okaloosa County Tourism Department has completed the required safety requirements from its respective federal, state and local regulators.
The SS US was built in 1951 and sailed from 1952 until his retirement in 1969. The ship had 1,984 passengers.
The Okaloosa County Tourism Department said in a news release Wednesday that divers can visit the ship and explore the surrounding ecosystems supporting a variety of marine life.
“As the world’s largest artificial leaf, SSU’s story is told by thousands of divers from all over the world as they explore her unique design and features,” Octdd said. “She also benefits the surrounding ecosystem and becomes a home of countless marine species that thrives from the existence of her structure.”
The size of the ship and the depth it sinks “provides a wealth of fishing and diving opportunities, from iconic coral reef fish such as the red snapper to fish species like the Wahoo. According to OCTDD, locals , visiting industry, charter industry.
SS US moved from Pier 82 to Pier 80 on Thursday morning, towed from South Philadelphia at 4am on Saturday and began its move if it is sufficient to allow safe passage at low tide. I will.
If visibility is poor, if vision is sufficient, the container will remain docked until the next low tide.
Some tugs escort the SS US as they enter the Atlantic, and are towed south around the East Coast and Florida Peninsula during a two-week voyage.
Those interested can follow the ship’s final journey online via GPS tracking, which begins when the ship begins.
The 990-foot ship was originally scheduled to be towed by mobile on November 14th, but bad weather and safety concerns delayed departure.
Once the luxury liner is docked to the mobile, the contractor removes hazardous materials such as asbestos, fuel, and non-metal parts to make it safe for the ultimate deployment as an artificial leaf.
The contractor will also modify the vessel, resting on the Gulf floor, becoming the world’s largest artificial reef, then sinking the hull and leaving it upright.
The process of preparing the vessel for the final deployment takes about 12 months, and the SS US-only museum will display many of the items in a museum specializing in ships at Destin Fort Walton Beach.
SS US Reserve will work with OCTDD to develop an onshore-based museum that incorporates the iconic features of the ship, including vessels, radar masts and other components.
The conservancy curates and manages the archive collection while preserving the ship’s history.
