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Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The SS United States has been cleared to sail from south Philadelphia to Mobile, Ala., in preparation for its eventual sinking in northwest Florida to become the world's largest artificial reef. The vessel will be towed from its berth on the Delaware River in south Philadelphia to Mobile, where it will be readied for its eventual sinking in the Gulf 20 miles off Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
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The Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department completed the necessary safety requirements from respective federal, state and local regulators.
The SS United States was built in 1951 and sailed from 1952 until its retirement in 1969. The ship had a capacity of 1,984 passengers.
Divers will be able to visit the vessel and explore its surrounding ecosystem that will support a variety of marine life, the Okaloosa County Tourist Development Department said Wednesday in a news release.
"As the World's Largest Artificial Reef, the story of the SSUS will be told to thousands of divers from around the world as they explore her unique design and features," the OCTDD said. "She will also benefit her surrounding ecosystem and become home to countless marine species that will thrive from the presence of her structure."
The ship's size and the depth at which it will be sunk will support a "wide variety of marine life from iconic reef fish such as red snapper to pelagic species of fish, like wahoo," and "will provide bountiful fishing and diving opportunities for the local, visiting and charter industries," according to the OCTDD.
The SS United States will begin its move on Thursday morning, when it will be moved from Pier 82 to Pier 80 and then towed from south Philadelphia at 4 a.m. Saturday if visibility is sufficient for enabling safe passage during low tide.
If visibility is poor, the vessel will remain docked until the next low tide when visibility is sufficient.
Several tugboats will escort the SS United States as it enters the Atlantic Ocean and is towed south along the eastern seaboard and around the Florida peninsula to Mobile during a two-week voyage.
Those interested can follow the vessel's final journey online via GPS tracking that will start when the vessel begins is final voyage.
The 990-foot ship initially was scheduled to be towed to Mobile on Nov. 14, but bad weather and safety concerns delayed its departure.
Once the luxury liner has docked in Mobile, contractors will remove hazardous material, such as asbestos, fuel and non-metal parts, to make it safe for eventual deployment as an artificial reef.
Contractors also will modify the vessel to ensure it will sink hull-first and remain upright after coming to rest on the floor of the Gulf and becoming the world's largest artificial reef.
The process to prepare the vessel for its final deployment will take about 12 months and a museum dedicated to the SS United States will display many of its items at a museum dedicated to the vessel in Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
The SS United States Conservancy will work with the OCTDD to develop the land-based museum that will incorporate the ship's iconic features, including its funnels, radar mast and other components.
The conservancy will curate and manage an archival collection while preserving the ship's history.
