December 12th 2024.
The rusty cruise liner, which has seen better days, is set to embark on a journey hundreds of miles away to the sunny shores of Destin, Florida. This ocean liner, once graced by the presence of icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Dwight Eisenhower, will soon find its new home at the bottom of the sea, as per the plan proposed by officials in Okaloosa County, Florida. The idea is to purposely sink the SS United States, creating an artificial reef that will not only provide a sanctuary for marine life, but also attract divers from all corners of the world.
However, before the ship can fulfill its new purpose, it must first reach its destination in one piece. Unfortunately, the vessel, originally built in the 1950s, has endured its fair share of wear and tear over the years. While it was once known as the fastest cruise liner in the world, it has been sitting idle in a Philadelphia shipyard for quite some time now. Although its permanent home awaits in Florida, the journey there is proving to be quite complicated. In fact, recently released Coast Guard documents have raised concerns about the ship's ability to make the trip safely.
According to the Coast Guard's assessment, the ship may not have suitable stability for the intended transit and could pose a hazard to the port and waterway. This has caused a delay in the ship's departure, as a thorough report must now be done on its structural condition, watertight integrity, towing condition, onboard liquid loading, centre of gravity, and ability to navigate certain wave conditions. As a result, it may be a few more years until the fleet of tug boats can finally tow the ship all the way to Florida.
In the meantime, the ship remains docked in Philadelphia, where it has been for over a decade. Upon inspection, it was found that the interior of the ship is riddled with lead paint and asbestos, making it unsafe for passengers. However, once it is sunk and becomes an artificial reef, it will provide a safe haven for marine life to flourish. This has been seen in other shipwrecks, such as Sir Ernest Shackleton's "Endurance" in the Antarctic, where sea anemones, sponges, and starfish now cover the wreck. Divers have even spotted a bright yellow sea lily, also known as a group of invertebrate marine creatures called crinoids, making it their new home.
It's not just the interior of the ship that has seen better days. The exterior paint is also peeling off, a far cry from its glory days when it hosted famous figures like Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy. However, this is not uncommon for ships that have been in service for as long as the SS United States. In fact, artificial reefs have been created from various sunken objects, including cinder blocks, wood, and steel. In the Florida Keys, a ship was intentionally sunk in 1986 to help marine life thrive, and it has been a success. The Thunderbolt is now teeming with coral and fish, attracting divers year after year.
In the end, the journey of the SS United States to its new home in Florida may be a long and arduous one, but it is all for a good cause. Not only will it provide a safe haven for marine life, but it could also bring millions of dollars in tourism to the state. As we have seen in other artificial reefs, the possibilities for growth and flourishing are endless. And who knows, maybe one day, the SS United States will be just as famous for its new role as an underwater oasis as it once was for its glamorous past as a luxury cruise liner.
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