The historic SS United States has been sitting at the Port of Mobile in Alabama for more than a month now, and with each passing day, is closer to becoming the world’s largest artificial reef, writes David Fischer for AP.
Despite those plans having been in place for months, competing diving businesses want the ship closer to them. Meanwhile, one is still making attempts to stop the ship from being sunk altogether.
While in Alabama, workers are preparing the SS United States for its likely fate as an artificial reef. To this end, they are emptying and cleaning out all 120 fuel tanks, removing chemicals, wiring, plastic, and glass.
“Basically, when it’s ready to be deployed, it will be a steel and aluminum structure,” said Okaloosa County coastal resource manager Alex Fogg.
As that process takes place, Florida businesses are angling to benefit.
Officials in Bay County are offering $3 million to Okaloosa County — the ship’s owners — to sink the ship closer to Panama City Beach.
Meanwhile, Escambia County officials are offering $1 million to have the SS United States sunk closer to Pensacola.
The New York Coalition, however, filed a lawsuit asking the ship’s sinking to be halted. Though it’s not likely to happen.
Read more about the SS United States and the diving businesses’ battle for position in AP.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in April 2025.
