By Danny Freeman, CNN

Philadelphia (CNN) — After a series of delays, everything finally seemed set. The SS United States looked like it was ready to make its last voyage – from Philadelphia to the Gulf of Mexico. But wouldn’t you know it:

Yet another postponement for the majestic ship. And a new date for departure has not been set yet.

The first leg of the ship’s journey to her new underwater home off the coast of Florida was to be a quite short one — from Pier 82 to Pier 80 in Philadelphia. That was supposed to happen Thursday morning, but the move got delayed to Thursday evening.

Florida’s Okaloosa County, which plans to sink the ship and transform it into an artificial reef, announced the latest delay late Thursday afternoon.

“Plans to move the SS United States from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Mobile, Alabama, have been delayed due to follow-up details requested by the U.S. Coast Guard to ensure a proper tow from Pier 82 to Pier 80,” Okaloosa County said in a statement.

“We understand the frustration for those who made plans surrounding this momentous event and appreciate your patience,” the statement said.

Before the latest setback, the “Big U” was expected to take two weeks to travel down the East Coast and around the southern tip of Florida before stopping in Mobile, Alabama, for final preparations to be sunk off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach off the Florida Panhandle.

The American icon — which set the transatlantic speed record in 1952 and is nearly as large as the Chrysler Building — is set to become a haven for fish and divers as the “World’s Largest Artificial Reef.”

A series of delays

Observers of the SS United States’ move have become accustomed to changes of plans.

Last fall, bad weather in the Gulf of Mexico initially delayed the trip south. The biggest hurdle came in the form of a “Captain of the Port Order” from the Coast Guard.

The order obtained by CNN said the ship “may not have suitable stability for the intended transit and presents a hazardous condition to the port or waterway.” The order said Okaloosa County needed to restore the ship’s structural integrity before it would be allowed to depart.

After the Coast Guard told CNN last month “positive progress” had been made on this front, on Wednesday the county said it had “completed the necessary safety requirements by local, state and federal agencies to move the SS United States.”

The ship’s previous owner, the SS United States Conservancy confirmed the move as well Wednesday, noting the county had done “comprehensive due diligence,” and “extensive testing” to prepare for this journey.

Once the SS United States docks in Alabama, contractors will “remove hazardous material, including non-metal parts and fuel to ensure this deployment is clean and not harmful to the environment it aims to benefit,” according to Okaloosa County.

Officials said the preparation process will take about 12 months.

A ship of lore and history

For more than 70 years, the SS United States has captivated the hearts and minds of Americans for her distinguished beauty, her 1952 transatlantic speed record and for carrying some of the world’s most precious cargo, including multiple US presidents and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.”

She was withdrawn from service in 1969. The admiration never ceased.

While many longtime fans of the ship have mourned the decision to sink it, the SS United States Conservancy and Okaloosa County say this was the only option to prevent the SS United States from being scrapped after it was evicted from its longtime Philadelphia pier.

The-CNN-Wire
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