Posted on 10/21/2024 12:00:45 PM PDT by Red Badger
Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Officials in Florida's Panhandle predict the transformation of the former glamour cruise liner SS United States into a sunken artificial reef will be a major boost for the region's eco-tourism industry.
After a years-long legal battle over its future at Pier 82 in Philadelphia, where it has been docked since 1996, the ship Saturday was officially signed over a week ago to Okaloosa County, Fla.
The county plans to submerge the 990-foot vessel in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Destin as part of its long-standing efforts to boost the popularity of sport diving and fishing around artificial reefs.
Once the project is completed sometime next year, it will be touted by county tourism officials as "the world's largest artificial reef," set up to "attract divers and anglers from around the world."
Now that it has obtained ownership of the famous ship from its longtime owner -- the nonprofit SS United States Conservancy -- the county will spend an estimated $10.1 million on the project, including its next step, which is to tow the 73-year-old vessel from Philadelphia to Norfolk, Va.,
There, it will "undergo the necessary steps to be deployed as an artificial reef." That's scheduled to happen sometime in the coming weeks.
Also as part of the effort, the conservancy will develop a land-based museum and immersive experience in conjunction with the artificial reef.
More artificial reefs sought
The plans for the SS United States are part of a long-term effort by the county to invest substantially in the creation of artificial reefs to attract diving tourists, as well as anglers.
Because the reefs provide a source of biological replenishment to local populations of marine vertebrates and invertebrates, they essentially act as fish magnets, pulling in species that range from grouper and red snapper to bigger game fish, such as tuna.
The reefs can be be composed of rubble, concrete -- or sunken ships. In 2023, for example, Okaloosa County established five sunken-vessel artificial reefs and also deployed hundreds of prefabricated concrete modules in collaboration with local and national partners.
The Destin-Fort Walton area saw 7.8 million visitors in 2023, and that generated $734 million in direct tourism spending, according to county figures.
Statewide, Florida has one of the most active artificial reef programs among Gulf and Atlantic coast states, with 4,300 deployments situated off 34 coastal counties as of May, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They average 67 feet deep but go down as much as 500 feet.
Some sunken vessels are already undersea tourist attractions, including the freighter Mercedes I, which famously washed up along an exclusive stretch of Palm Beach in 1984, and the USS Oriskany, a former Navy battleship which in 2006 became the largest artificial reef ever intentionally sunk in U.S. coastal waters -- 22.5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass at a depth of 212 feet.
"The reason we do all these artificial reefs is that in the area of the Gulf of Mexico where we are, there are no coral reefs," Okaloosa County public information officer Nick Tomecek told UPI.
"If you were to take the water away, it would look like a desert out there, and so these artificial reefs -- once they're properly cleaned and environmentally safe -- are deployed at differing depths, and they create this incredible habitat for marine life."
It amounts to a "win-win-win" for the environment, diving tourism and both the commercial and recreational fishing industries, he said.
"There are so many benefits from these artificial reefs in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach destination area," he said. "It's been pretty exciting. We usually draw a little bit of a crowd [when a new reef is deployed], with divers and their dive boats gathered around ready to go as soon as it goes down to the bottom.
"And this one, being the world's largest artificial reef -- it's definitely going to draw some attention, for sure"
A glamorous history
That's likely not only because of the "world's largest" tag, but also because of the storied history of the SS United States itself.
According to the SS United States Conservancy, it was launched in 1951 and still holds the transatlantic speed record, achieved on her maiden voyage using only two-thirds of her power.
The ship was designed as a top-secret, convertible troop carrier and Cold War weapon, and is still considered "the pinnacle" of American post-war maritime engineering. It was officially retired in 1969.
During its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s before the advent of the jet age, the SS United States' passenger list was studded by stars of stage and screen, as well as world leaders, including four U.S. presidents -- Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and a young Bill Clinton.
Among the world-class celebrities plying the Atlantic Ocean among its 23 public rooms, 395 staterooms and 14 first-class suites were Marlon Brando, Coco Chanel, Sean Connery, Duke Ellington, Salvador Dali, Walt Disney, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne.
During that era, the SS United States was a frequent and familiar site at the British port of Southampton, where its arrival at the conclusion of its record-setting maiden voyage on July 3, 1952, drew a crowd of almost 70,000.
It was during that journey that it took the coveted "Blue Riband" -- awarded to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest average speed -- from the RMS Queen Mary. The US United States reached speeds exceeding 38 knots, or 44 mph..
But for all its past glories and accomplishments, the SS United States' recent history has been fraught with trouble. The sale to Okaloosa County came as part of a legal settlement between the conservancy, which is led by the granddaughter of the ship's designer William Francis Gibbs, and Philadelphia pier operator Penn Warehousing.
Under its terms, the SS United States was evicted from the pier following years of ultimately unsuccessful efforts by the nonprofit to find the historic ship a new home.
The group worked for several years on a plan in which it would have been moved to one of several piers along Manhattan's West Side in New York City and converted to a hotel as the anchor for a mixed-use project, but the eviction came before that plan could be made final.
Instead, it will now be a submerged biological habitat and tourist attraction, albeit with a "state-of-the-art" land-based museum that will "blend the latest technology" with the conservancy's expansive collections of original artifacts and artwork from the ship.
Among the collected artefacts will be at least one of the ship's iconic funnels, its radar mast and detailed recreations of spaces using original materials.
"We can tell you that you will not be lost, you will not be forgotten, you will no longer be neglected and abused," conservancy board member Thomas Watkins said a week ago in a farewell to the ship.
"You will be rightly honored, cherished, and loved in a new home and in a new dimension. You will no longer be sailing the seas, but you will be surrounded and caressed by them."
Hmmm...
Does this mean that the fishing lure industry will be making huge profits tailoring their lures to the ship’s cabin-class that the fish take up residence in?
I worked on the Constitution’s sister ship,the Independence in the mid 1980s as an able bodied seaman and third officer.
Both were build as passenger ships in the early 1950’s.
“Chi Nee Food”
I also got off at Bremerhaven. I had a tooth worked on in New York City. Got aboard ship and developed one hell of a tooth ache. Knocked me down for nearly four days. Woke up at 3 AM in the morning. Still groggy. Walked around that huge ship from deck to deck for maybe an hour. Returned to cabin to tell wife, ‘The damned ship’s deserted.” Her answer, ‘Go back to sleep killjoy.’ Arrived in Southhampten that day. Couldn’t tell you if they served good food. Took the SS Stavangerfjord back to NYCity; and the did serve good food.
It’s been disintegrating for decades. Using it for something else would require a great deal of time and money.
Tell Dad Thank You for sharing this with Us/Me. 🤠
I really love things made of glass. I had a great collection of vintage glass going when I was living in Arkansas. There was a Goodwill type store (privately owned) with a great selection of vintage glassware. I had a set of Barware items: Cordial set for service with a serving tray, Decanter, 8 mini stemmed glasses. A large (quart) cocktail mixing set with glass swizzle stick and strainer. Rectangular snack tray with matching punch cups and divided compartments to serve cheeses, paté , bread/crackers, olives, pickles, etc and keep them separated and little glass spreader knives for soft Brié/patés. A full set of Dinnerware with Charger plates, salad plates, soup bowls, Dinner plates, dessert plates, water, wine, drinking glasses, etc. Coffee Service Set with Serving Tray, Carafé, sugar and creamer, cups with saucers. Was in the process of getting Bar glasses, fluted glasses, Beer Stein's, martini glasses, highball, short drink glasses, shot glasses, etc.
Then I got the call from Mom to come home. Dad was in the Hospital with Wegners Granulomatosis and going downhill fast. I was on the 05:00 flight from LIT to SAT with My bag of clothes and never made it back to LIT because I had to stay with Mom after Dad Passed away.
I think this is great. I learned to dive at Destin in 1967 before going to Vietnam. And I used to see the USS United States when it was moored at Newport News, VA for many years. The Spirit of Norfolk would do a dinner cruise up to the ship where it was rusting away. As I recall the engines were originally slated for a warship. That is why it holds the record for speed crossing the Atlantic. The average speed was almost 41 mph. Can you imagine anyone enjoying the trip sitting in a deck chair while going that speed?
Tis the fate of most ships, the breakers or the bottom.
Bkmk
What wonderful memories! My parents told of the couple of times they sailed to Europe doing similar things (bringing the car, etc.).
No free shipping.........Should have bought it on Amazon................
If they sink it perpendicular to the shore the chances of that are minimized......
Yep!..................
The SS Constitution was moored in the St. John’s River in Jacksonville for years and years. I used to pass by it every time I went to the beaches in the late 60’s early 70’s.............
That’s Tropical Storm force winds!..............
The “Connie” and the “Indy” were brought back into service in the early 1980’s and cruised the Hawaiian Islands. The “Indy” ran until just after 9/11. The “Indy” was I believe made into razor blades a few years ago.
The “Connie” was featured in the movie “An Affair to Remember” and was also in an episode of Magnum, P.I.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.