SS United States’ departure moved to Wednesday, Feb. 19

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(Editor’s note, Feb. 17. This story was updated with news that the ship’s departure from the Delaware River waterfront has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19. The departure had been delayed by a day each of the two previous days.)

The SS United States’ on-again, off-again departure is on-off on again.

As has now become custom, Billy Penn received an email Thursday afternoon from the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department, which oversees Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Fla., saying local, state and federal requirements had been met and the trip has been rescheduled.

The trip will again involve two parts. The ship will be moved from one pier to another during high tide on Friday afternoon.

The departure down the Delaware River was then set to commence after noon on Monday, Feb. 17, coinciding with low tide. A high wind advisory led to the departure time and date being moved to noon Tuesday, Feb. 18. Out of an “abundance of caution,” it was moved on Monday to Wednesday, Feb. 19. Again, the move has been linked to low tide, as the ship has precious little room, maybe as little as 6 feet, between its smokestacks and the Walt Whitman Bridge, which it needs to pass under to get to the Atlantic Ocean.

The initial attempt to move the ship in mid-November was postponed just hours before it was to begin.

The plan is the ship will eventually be transported to Mobile, Ala. There, she will undergo final preparations for her next chapter beneath the waves.

The move was most recently set to begin on Thursday, Feb. 6, when the ship would be shifted from Pier 82 to Pier 80. That move was originally set for the morning, but was moved back to after 8 p.m. After that, the plan was that in the early hours Saturday, Feb. 8, the SS United States would depart Philadelphia for the last time, escorted by a fleet of tugboats down the Delaware River and into the Atlantic Ocean. Because of tidal charts, the trip was set to begin at 4 a.m., with a GPS tracker allowing the public to follow her journey in real time.

The email also said:

We understand the frustration for those who made plans surrounding this momentous event and appreciate your patience.

Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department

Believe us, Florida folks, we’re not making plans on your schedule.

The trip to Mobile was expected to take about two weeks. Once there, teams would spend the next year removing hazardous materials and making modifications to ensure the ship sinks safely and lands upright on the seafloor. The final deployment site — still to be determined — is supposed be about 20 miles off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coastline, where the ship would become a thriving underwater habitat for marine life.

The SS United States on the Delaware River waterfront. (Courtesy of Okaloosa County’s Tourist Development Department)

A historic transformation

The SS United States, known as “America’s Flagship,” was once the fastest ocean liner in the world, setting a transatlantic speed record in 1952 that still stands today. Now, she’s set to become a haven for fish, coral, and marine creatures of all kinds, supporting a rich ecosystem beneath the Gulf of Mexico — and boost the region’s tourism, diving, and fishing industries.

While the SS United States is preparing for her underwater transformation, her legacy is expected to live on above the surface. Okaloosa County has been working with the SS United States Conservancy to create a land-based museum in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, featuring artifacts from the ship, including her iconic funnels, radar mast, and other signature elements. The museum, in theory, will preserve her rich history and tell the story of this remarkable vessel to future generations.

Or maybe you’ll just keep seeing it when you visit Ikea. Forever.

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SS United States’ departure moved to Wednesday, Feb. 19

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