SS United States in Mobile Bay

𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙫𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙎 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝘽𝙖𝙮:

Once considered the zenith of American shipbuilding, the SS United States, an engineering marvel said to be the greatest liner to ever be built, is towed into Mobile Bay Monday morning, MAR 3rd 2025. Gutted and void of the fittings and furnishings that once earned her the status of a stately icon of American technology, the ship that set a still-standing world record for speed is incapable of even propelling herself. Instead, she finishes twelve days of being towed from her previous home of nearly three decades in Philadelphia, a degrading end to decades of maritime grandeur.

The United States began her voyage FEB 19th after being purchased by Okaloosa Co. FL. She heads to Modern American Recycling Services in Mobile for cleaning and other final preparations. The ship will next be towed to a spot in the Gulf of America off the Destin/Ft. Walton Beach area where she’ll be sunk to begin a new life as the biggest artificial reef in the world. Although many people wanted to see the United States saved, the ship’s size, condition and complexity of restoration were deemed too expensive and not practical.

Photos shot using Nikon cameras from aboard the 41 foot Honky Tonk in Mobile Bay, only a few hundred yards from the United States. Thanks to Fairhope residents Sonny and Tricia Kearley, who provided water transportation. Without their generosity, these pictures would not have been possible for eastern shore residents to enjoy…

𝙁𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙎 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨:

• Fastest ocean liner in world history
• Largest ocean liner ever constructed in the United States
• On her first Atlantic crossing (JUL 1952), the ship set the world’s speed record: Three days, ten hours and 40 minutes, a record that remains unbeaten
•  At one point, the ship’s speed capability is considered a military top secret
• Measuring 990 feet (longer than five city blocks), the SS United States exceeds the Titanic’s length by more than 100 feet
• Designed to accommodate about 2,000 passengers, the ship could be retrofitted to quickly transport 14,000 troops if needed during a conflict
• The ship operates from 1952 to 1969, serving mainly as a transatlantic passenger liner, carrying celebrities and dignitaries
• Four US presidents sail on the SS United States: Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Bill Clinton. Other passengers include Marlon Brando, Coco Chanel, Sean Connery, Gary Cooper, Walter Cronkite, Salvador Dali, Walt Disney, and Duke Ellington
• The ship contains no wood, except for the grand pianos aboard, which are made from a fire-resistant grade of mahogany. Even after being doused with gasoline, a Steinway piano that was aboard wouldn’t ignite
• Designed by William Francis Gibbs to be entirely fireproof, the ship incorporates more aluminum than any previous construction. This makes the ship so much lighter that she’s able to capture the world’s speed title by hitting 38.32 knots (44 mph) during trials
• The ship is equipped with four propellers—two four-bladed and two five-bladed—each measuring 18 feet in diameter and weighing approximately 60,000 pounds. These propellers are crafted from manganese bronze, a material chosen for its strength and durability. This specific configuration is chosen for its superior hydrodynamic performance, contributing to the vessel’s amazing speed and efficiency. One of the ship’s four-bladed propellers is on display at Pier 76 in Manhattan
• The ship stays docked in Philadelphia for nearly 30 years. The ship’s owner, SS United States Conservancy, explores various options for restoring the vessel, including turning it into an entertainment center with restaurants. But unique construction containing specialized aluminum alloys and materials filled with asbestos pose major challenges. Many interior fittings have been removed. With rehabilitation being exorbitantly expensive and complex, efforts to find an investor are unsuccessful. Despite the desire of many people to see the vessel saved, the long-term viability of trying to restore the ship could never be assured.
• In OCT 2024, the Conservancy sells the ship to Okaloosa Co. FL for $1 million. The county’s Board of Commissioners approves spending $10.1 million for the acquisition, remediation, transport and deployment of the vessel. The county says no property tax money will pay for the ship; instead, funding will come from tourism tax dollars with strict legal restrictions on how funds are used
• The vessel is to be sunk about 20 nautical miles south of the Florida Panhandle in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.  Once deployed, the ship will be the largest artificial reef anywhere, making it home to a diverse range of marine species and attracting anglers and divers from around the world, contributing to the local economy
• Predictions are for the reef to be placed at a depth of about 180 feet, with the ship’s top deck at 60 feet, making it accessible to divers of various skill levels
• Okaloosa county’s project also includes $1 million allocated to support a land-based museum highlighting the iconic ship. Plans call for the ship’s funnels to be preserved and placed on display at the museum
• During its twelve day journey to Mobile, not once does Vinik No. 6, the 140 foot twin diesel engine tug towing the United States, need to stop for fuel. The tug can hold 174,618 gallons.