The SS United States, which has been deemed seaworthy by the Coast Guard, may soon depart its longtime home at Pier 82 in South Philadelphia — where it has been docked for nearly three decades — and embark on a journey to Florida, writes Ximena Conde for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The former cruise liner was supposed to leave for its new temporary home mid-November, but bad weather conditions delayed the trip. Days later, the Coast Guard decided to once again test the ship’s structural integrity.
Now that the green light has finally been given, the ship could start its journey this weekend.
The ship found a new owner recently, after the SS United States Conservancy failed in its attempts to redevelop the vessel. Instead, Okaloosa County in Florida plans to sink the ship and turn it into the world’s largest artificial reef.
According to Delaware River Port Authority spokesperson Mike Williams, the Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry Bridges will remain open on Saturday. However, there will be a brief pause in traffic “to minimize driver distraction as the SS United States passes underneath the spans.”
So long as the weather permits, the ship could leave Philly by Saturday.
Read more about the SS United States and its long-awaited move in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in February 2025.
