Plans to move the SS United States out of Philadelphia Friday that would have temporarily closed the Commodore Barry Bridge in Chester have been delayed, reports 6abc.

The vessel was originally scheduled to leave its South Philadelphia dock for a final voyage to Florida Nov. 15 at low tide.

Traffic on the Commodore Barry Bridge and the Walt Whitman Bridge would have been disrupted briefly as the ship passed through. Both bridges cross the Delaware River.

The ship has loomed for years on south Philadelphia’s Delaware waterfront., writes Juan Carlos Castillo for the Asbury Park Press.

A new date for the move has not been set.

The delay was prompted by concerns over a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico and “logistical details” and procedures that need to be finalized to maintain ideal conditions for the move.

There is a $10.1 million plan in place approved by city commissioners in Okaloosa County, Florida to relocate the ocean liner and sink it off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The action would create an artificial reef.

The plan includes a $1 million seaside museum showcasing the cruise liner’s history.

The 1,000-foot-long SS United States, the largest ocean liner built entirely in the US, was first launched in 1951 and holds the transatlantic speed record. It has transported tourists, military, presidents, celebrities, and immigrants.

It was decommissioned in 1969.

“Converting the world’s fastest ship into the world’s largest artificial reef will write a new chapter for the SS United States as a world-class destination,” said SS United States Conservancy President Susan Gibbs.

Read more about the SS United States and its final journey in the Asbury Park Press and 6abc.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on DELCO Today in November 2024.