MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — The SS United States is one step closer to becoming the world’s largest artificial reef. However, officials say there are still steps before the historic ocean liner reaches its final resting place at the bottom of the Gulf.
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A key phase of work on the SS United States is now finished as the ship awaits final approval to move forward.
“The environmental remediation is complete. And now we’re just waiting for final approvals from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency,” Okaloosa County’s Public Information Officer, Nick Tomecek, said.
The ship arrived in Mobile more than a year ago to undergo that cleanup process, which included removing hazardous materials and preparing it to be sunk in the Gulf near Fort Walton Beach and Destin.
“All the nonmetal items were removed. All the wiring, all the tanks were cleaned,” Tomecek said. “The PCBs have been removed from the vessel. And then all the other standards that EPA requires for artificial reefing have been followed.”…