Posted on 08/11/2025 2:11:58 PM PDT by Ezekiel
The second 65-foot funnel was removed last Friday from the historic ocean liner in Mobile, Alabama.
The aft funnel aboard the SS United States was removed last Friday in Mobile, Alabama, as another major step in preparing the vessel to become the world’s largest artificial reef, according to Okaloosa County.
• The towering funnels, each standing 65 feet tall and as tall as a six-story building, were removed last week. The remaining propeller was also removed last Friday and loaded on the same barge as the aft funnel.
These items are among many others being preserved to be incorporated in the SS United States Conservancy’s land-based museum.
All of the fuel aboard the vessel has been removed and the tanks are being steam cleaned. A substantial amount of wiring still needs to be removed, according to the county.
• “These steps are being taken to ensure an environmentally safe deployment of the vessel as an artificial reef, which is expected to take place in late 2025,” the county said on Friday.
The 990-foot historic ocean liner is being prepared for deployment off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Once deployed, it will surpass the current record holder as the world’s largest artificial reef.
:)
President Donald J. Trump could you please help 'Make the USS United States Great Again?'
Please...
In 1983 and early 1984 I sailed as an able bodied seaman (AB) on the tanker Worth, a San Clemente Class Tanker. She is now the Mercy.
Tis the fate of most ships, the bottom or the breakers.
Indeed. I agree with you.
The ride on I95 will never be the same.
Yep.
(SIGH)
Great tie-in.
Now as the Mercy, she’s taken over for Comfort in watching over the United States.
Yes!
Back in the early 1980’s I worked with several people who looked into the idea of selling cabins on the SS United States and running it as a cruise ship. The idea never really got off the ground.
And now, there is not much demand for a 75 year old passenger ship except as razor blades or reefs. Also an old passenger ship cannot compete with the newer cruise ships.
Note: I make a distinction between passenger ships and cruise ships.
On the ground...
Somebody should have thought of that -- set her up on land, kind of like the Ark Encounter!
Really though, the symbolism and analogs are really off-the-charts with this whole story line. It's truly an ongoing living parable.
Excellent observations. Engineers from around the world could have studied those magnificent steam engines.
But I think at some point, the year 2000, the ship just became a 50 year old rust bucket.
Dad was reassigned to Landstuhl Germany. We drove across country and took the SS United States out of NYC, NY to Bremerhaven Germany.
That must be quite a memory!
My parents raised 7 kids as my dad went from post to post in the USA and Germany for 20 years. The shared happy memories of those years remain very vivid for everyone in the family to this day.
If a person holds the winning ticket for the super mega bazillion $$$ lottery jackpot, he doesn't unsee that fact because after all, "What are the odds?" Gotta be a bazillion to 1.
And he certainly wouldn't be amused if the payers ignored his winning ticket for the same reason.
***
First some background ahead of the new info:
She was born as Hull (guf, גוף) No. 488. Numerically, Jacob יעקב + Esau עשו joined with a common eye (the ayin/70 ע counted once, the one letter they share).
Jewish tradition has it that Leah was supposed to marry Esau while Rachel was commissioned for Jacob.
Compare the scene on the Moon (symbolic of the Kingdom of David) with the two Men on the Moon sharing a common left eye: the Sea of Tranquility, Tranquility Base. The large astonished man is the typically recognized face, but the little man [אישון] of the eye is right there with him, with a wry smile. The large man's C-shaped nose is the smaller man's nose and smile:Genesis 29:17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.
There are many symbolisms, analogies, and interesting timelines floating along with this destruction-of-the-SS United States saga.
The latest involves the arrival of MERCY on Tisha b'Av (Aug 3). See photo and dates in the original post and comment.
In a weird way, Mercy's 18-day journey to Mobile (Results for מוביל, to lead, guide) matched to the dates of the mission of Apollo 11 --
From July 16th to Tisha b'Av.
The next day, Aug 4th, the first funnel was removed. The second (aft) funnel was removed on the 8th.
The largest funnels ever put to sea:
The primary purpose of a ship's funnels is to ventilate the vessel's engine rooms, allowing exhaust to escape. Gibbs believed funnels also create a unique and iconic character for the ship and her owners. To create an unforgettable silhouette, Gibbs had the liner topped with two massive, red-white-and-blue, tear-drop-shaped funnels located midship.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_United_States#Funnels_and_superstructure
Back to the numbers as they relate, because her name in Hebrew is "יונייטד סטייטס" adding up to 257, which first appears throughout the Creation account as the word "ויאמר" --
בראשית 1:3
ויאמר אלהים יהי אור ויהי אור
Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
257 is the same as the Ark (aron, ארון), as in the Ark of the Covenant.
Which brings me back to the timely arrival of Mercy:
4 It was also in the same document that the prophet, having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him, and that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God.
5 Jeremiah came and found a cave-dwelling, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense; then he sealed up the entrance.
6 Some of those who followed him came up intending to mark the way, but could not find it.
7 When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: “The place shall remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy. (LINK)
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
For NT readers:
Romans 9
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Well, like those who say what are the odds, a bazillion to 1 so there's nothing to see here.
tear-drop-shaped funnels located midship
Mercy arrived on Tisha b'Av for repairs:
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