S.S. United States expected to dock in Mobile about noon Monday

Fox10News ^ | March 2, 2025 | Stephen Alexander

[Ezekiel]

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Officials say the S.S. United States is expected to dock in Mobile about noon.

Here is a portion of a release from myokaloosa.com

Media Advisory: SS United States Arrival in Mobile

Mobile, Alabama – The SS United States is expected to begin her journey into the Mobile Bay about 6 a.m. on Monday, March 3, 2025. From there, she will make her way to the docks at Modern American Recycling Services (MARS) located at 601 South Royal Street, Mobile, AL 36603 with an expected arrival at 12 p.m. (This time will fluctuate depending on multiple factors. Be prepared for earlier or later arrival)

[C210N]

she will make her way to the docks at Modern American Recycling Services (MARS)

MARS eh? Interesting...

[Dr. Franklin]

Elon Musk and DOGE have found billions is waste, but there was no money to save this national treasure.

[dfwgator]

Or M/A/R/R/S

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9gOQgfPW4Y

[TexasGator]

Elon Musk and DOGE have found billions is waste, but there was no money to save this national treasure.”

1. We are $36 trillion in debt.

2. If they don’t find savings we are in for a massive tax hike this year.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Background info and context on the SS United States...

The SS United States is being towed to Mobile, Alabama, as part of a plan to transform it into the world’s largest artificial reef off Florida’s Gulf Coast. After sitting docked in Philadelphia for nearly 30 years, the iconic ocean liner—famous for setting the transatlantic speed record in 1952—left its berth on February 19, 2025, following months of delays. Okaloosa County, Florida, purchased the ship in fall 2024 for $1 million, within a $10.1 million project that includes towing, preparation, and sinking it about 20 miles off Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

Mobile was chosen over other options like Norfolk, Virginia, because it’s closer to the Gulf of Mexico, streamlining the operation, and offers a cost-effective facility for the prep work. Once there, at Modern American Recycling Services south of downtown Mobile, the ship will undergo a six-to-twelve-month process to make it environmentally safe for sinking. This involves removing contaminants like asbestos, PCBs, oils, and fuel, as well as stripping non-metal parts, portholes, and artifacts (like its funnels and radar mast) for a planned land-based museum in Florida. The hull will also be modified—likely with explosives to open valves and bulkheads—so it sinks upright in about 180 feet of water.

The decision reflects a shift from earlier hopes of turning the ship into a museum or hotel, which faltered due to cost and logistics. Okaloosa County sees the reef as a tourism boost, building on the Gulf’s reputation for artificial reefs—like the USS Oriskany sunk off Pensacola in 2006. Mobile’s role is temporary but critical, prepping the 990-foot vessel for its final underwater resting place, expected sometime between late 2025 and early 2026, depending on the remediation timeline.

I did not know about the plan to make it into the world's largest artificial reef.

[Leaning Right]

> Elon Musk and DOGE have found billions is waste, but there was no money to save this national treasure. <

A great ship, to be sure. But not on the same level as a Civil War battlefield or a major American warship.

A group did try to save the SS United States using private donations. That was the way to go. But not near enough money came in. So I guess you could say people voted with their wallets. And they said no thanks.

[PAR35]

An almost three quarter of a century old ship that’s been gutted and rotting for decades isn’t much of a national treasure any more. They do plan to salvage some of the remaining artifacts.

At least they didn’t send it to south Asia and kept the ship breaking jobs in America.

[Empire_of_Liberty]

It can join the Oriskany, which has met a similar fate.

I was joking with my wife, the other day, that if wind power blades would sink, there would be ample place for storage as “artificial reefs”.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Each blade weighs 30 tons and is made from composite materials, primarily fiberglass (glass fiber reinforced polymer) and carbon fiber, layered with resins like epoxy or polyester.

Imagine that stuff decomposing in the ocean, releasing tens of millions of tons of glass and carbon fibers!

[Empire_of_Liberty]

Actually, I can’t imagine what it would do. It may not sink, though.

I have always been amazed that glass bottles are not viewed as the ultimate environmentally friendly container. At the bottom of the ocean, I would imagine that glass returns quickly into the sand from which it came.

[Dr. Franklin]

A group did try to save the SS United States using private donations. That was the way to go. But not near enough money came in. So I guess you could say people voted with their wallets. And they said no thanks.

More like the conservancy was paying themselves a salary with money that could have been used to save the ship. They spent a lot of money removing the asbestos from inside the ship, and never reassembled the cabins and interior. That meant it couldn't easily be used as a floating hotel. It still could be used as a museum, but its almost too late to save it. I hate to lose something like that. We will never see another ship like it.

[Leaning Right]

> More like the conservancy was paying themselves a salary with money that could have been used to save the ship. <

Good point. There was talk of turning it into a floating hotel, using period furniture and decor. That would have been awesome.

[nevadapatriot]

>Actually, I can’t imagine what it would do. It may not sink, though.

Grok’s conclusion:
Yes, a 30-ton windmill blade made primarily of fiberglass and composite materials is likely buoyant in seawater. Its overall density, thanks to lightweight cores and potential air pockets, is typically less than 1,025 kg/m³. While exact buoyancy depends on the specific design and volume, the use of low-density composites suggests these blades would float rather than sink.

[Nervous Tick]

>> I was joking with my wife, the other day, that if wind power blades would sink, there would be ample place for storage as “artificial reefs”.

Since you have an interest in repurposing wind turbine blades for more appropriate applications, you might enjoy this animation...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qDoL8ro0fUF3O2Se2eeNBeY8bKHX2nx6/view

[Dr. Franklin]

Good point. There was talk of turning it into a floating hotel, using period furniture and decor. That would have been awesome.

I was following this because I saw the ship often driving by it on I-95. The wharf owner tried to get ownership of the ship from the conservancy but failed. They preferred to sink the ship rather than let another group take it over. All it needed was its own wharf, and eventually it could have been conserved. All the conservancy was doing was paying itself a salary and then paying the rent for the wharf, until they stopped doing the later and wound up in court. It's a tragedy. Only SCUBA divers will get to see it now.

[rellic]

“so it sinks upright in about 180 feet of water.”
I’m trained to be a recreational diver and my limit is 120 ft.
I’ll never dive down to 180 ft. I don’t have the equipment or training. So who is this reef for?
Habitat for sharks, swordfish, sea stars, octopus, shrimp and many other kinds of fish?
Most artificial reefs are much shallower so people can go there.

[Empire_of_Liberty]

My thanks to you and Grok.

I can imagine some gigantic government boondoggle, piercing these blades and filling critical air pockets with concrete before disposal at sea as a ‘reef’.

Then, some hurricane hits and the beaches look like they’re covered in dead whales as these leviathans wash up on shore.

The “unintended” consequences of idiocy.

[moreisee]

Sailed to England on her with my family way back in 1959. What a vessel she was back then.

[Dr. Franklin]

I’m trained to be a recreational diver and my limit is 120 ft. I’ll never dive down to 180 ft. I don’t have the equipment or training. So who is this reef for? Habitat for sharks, swordfish, sea stars, octopus, shrimp and many other kinds of fish? Most artificial reefs are much shallower so people can go there.

So you would get to see the top of the ship only. Maybe it still can be saved if someone can find a wharf.