The historic, aging ocean liner that a Florida County plans to turn into the world’s largest artificial reef, departed from South Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront on Wednesday, February 19th, marking the opening segment of its final voyage. The USS United States, is a 1,000-foot vessel that shattered the transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, is being towed to Mobile, Alabama, for planned prep work before officials eventually sink it off Florida’s Gulf Coast. The USS United States was once considered a beacon of American engineering, doubling as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops. The ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, besting the RMS Queen Mary’s time by 10 hours. To this day, the USS United States holds the Transatlantic speed record for an ocean liner.
Officials in Okaloosa County on Florida’s coastal panhandle hopes it will become a barnacle-encrusted standout among the county’s more than 500 artificial reefs and a signature diving attraction that could generate millions of dollars annually in local tourism spending for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels.
