SS United States Passes Palm Beach on Journey to New Purpose

Palm Beach, Florida – The historic SS United States cruised past Palm Beach County’s coast early Wednesday, Feb. 26, on its way to Alabama for cleaning before being repurposed as an artificial reef off Florida’s Panhandle.

Once the fastest passenger ship ever built, the SS United States is notable for holding the transatlantic speed record, a feat achieved during its maiden voyage in just over three days and ten hours. Originally designed as a part luxury liner, part military vessel during the Cold War, the ship’s construction was a covert collaboration between the U.S. government and a private company. It was built with precision to fit through the Panama Canal, allowing only a two-foot clearance on either side.

Retired from active duty in 1969, the ship spent nearly three decades at a pier in South Philadelphia. A dispute between the pier owners and the SS United States Conservancy forced the vessel to relocate. In October, Okaloosa County acquired the ship for $10 million, with plans to sink it to create an artificial reef near Destin-Fort Walton Beach and establish a land-based museum.

The SS United States began its journey to Mobile, Alabama, earlier this month, with an estimated travel time of two weeks. “While this is not the outcome we originally envisioned, the ship will have a future,” the conservancy stated on its website. “The next chapter of the SS United States story will bring tens of thousands of people annually from around the world to experience her.”

Residents of Palm Beach County had the opportunity to view the ship, affectionately known as “America’s Flagship,” between 7 a.m. and noon on Wednesday. Palm Beach resident Philip Metlin tracked the ship’s movement and expressed his excitement at witnessing its passage near Midtown Beach. Metlin, who climbed to the roof of his condominium for a better view, said, “I was so lucky because it could have happened in the middle of the night. I was hoping it would be saved because it has had such a storied life.”

The SS United States is currently being pulled by tugboats since its engines no longer operate. The conservancy estimates the preparation process for sinking the vessel could take more than a year, with an additional year required for the deployment of the artificial reef.

While the specific location of the reef remains undecided, it is anticipated to be about 20 nautical miles south of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area. The ship served passengers from 1952 until its retirement in 1969, hosting famous figures such as Walt Disney, Marilyn Monroe, and several U.S. presidents including Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy.

As the SS United States embarks on this transformative journey, many hope its legacy will continue to inspire future generations.