The journey of the historic SS United States from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama, originally set to begin later this week, has been indefinitely delayed.
After the iconic ship was evicted from its longtime home in South Philly, the nonprofit SS United States Conservancy made a deal with Okaloosa County, Florida, to sink it off the coast as the world’s largest artificial reef. The ship must go to Alabama first for cleaning and other preparations.
Okaloosa spokesman Nick Tomecek announced last week the ship would begin its journey down the Delaware River and Bay on Friday, marking most Delawareans’ last chance to see the ship from land. However, on Tuesday, Tomecek said operations have been delayed “to ensure logistical details and procedures maintain ideal conditions for the move.”
The county is also monitoring a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico that could impact the ship’s journey, Tomecek said.
A new departure date has not yet been set.
Why is the ship important?
The SS United States hit the water in 1952 as “an ambassador of America’s post-war industrial power and a technological marvel,” the SS United States Conservancy website says.