Science · SS United StatesSS United States sinking: Florida deployment moved up a day as ship leaves MobileWritten November 10, 2026 at 8:28 PM UTCWatchTranscript0:00SS United States sinking.0:01Florida deployment moved up a day as ship leaves Mobile.0:07The SS United States has left Mobile for a sinking now scheduled a day earlier.0:11Forecast heavy winds have pushed the county to bring forward an operation intended0:15to create the world's largest purpose sunk artificial reef.0:18On November8, we reported a weather-dependent November12 deployment, with operations0:22beginning at10 A.0:24That schedule has changed.0:26What does the earlier operation mean for the ship, the legal challenge, and people0:29hoping to watch?0:30Okaloosa County now schedules deployment operations for Wednesday, November11 , at0:34one p.0:35m.0:36central.0:37That's when the operation begins.0:38The time the liner actually disappears beneath the surface will depend on how the0:42deployment unfolds.0:43The county's updated schedule also corrects an earlier eleven A.0:46M.0:47Listing.0:48Officials moved the operation because they expect heavy winds and unsafe conditions0:51Thursday.0:52The liner left Mobile Monday morning, November9.0:55Its proposed destination is about twenty-two nautical miles southwest of Destin and0:59thirty.0:59Two nautical miles southeast of Pensacola.1:02Departure is confirmed, but arrival at the deployment site hasn't been announced.1:05The county had published proposed coordinates in October.1:08That corrects our earlier statement that exact coordinates weren't available.1:11Those coordinates identify the planned site.1:14The ship's final resting position will have to be confirmed after deployment.1:17AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar in Destin plans a noon viewing party Wednesday with a1:21deployment site feed on its large outdoor screen.1:24An online viewing link is promised before deployment.1:26The noon gathering starts an hour before operations.1:29The November11 send-off at the Destin, Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, has been1:33cancelled.1:34It had been scheduled for one thirty p.1:36m.1:36The new viewing party replaces the earlier nine A.1:39M.1:39Thursday event.1:40County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin says adjusting the schedule avoids unnecessary1:45risk.1:45He also emphasized the new Veterans Day date.1:48The liner was designed for civilian service with the ability to take on a military1:52role.1:52The liner measures nine hundred and ninety feet, about three hundred and two meters.1:56That resolves the conflicting descriptions of nearly nine hundred and nearly one.1:59Zero feet.2:00The county intends it to become the world's largest purpose sunk artificial reef.2:04Earlier plans put the seabed about one hundred and eighty feet below the surface and2:08the upper decks about sixty feet down.2:10Those are projected depths.2:12The county expects the wreck to attract diverse and provide habitat, with benefits2:16still to be measured.2:17The nearby USS Oriscani became a dive site in two thousand and six.2:20Okaloosa County already has more than five hundred artificial reefs.2:24That existing network helps explain the appeal to dive operators of adding a liner2:28of this size and history.2:29A new lawsuit seeks to stop that transformation.2:31On November3, the SS United States Preservation Foundation and its co-founder and2:36vice president, Stephen R.2:37Perry, sued the Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Officials, and Okaloosa County in2:41federal court in Pensacola.2:42The New York Coalition's earlier case was dismissed in August2025 because it lacked2:46standing to sue.2:47The Foundation's November2026 complaint is a separate challenge.2:50The SS United States Conservancy, which supports the reef and Museum Approach,2:55previously owned the ship.2:56The new plaintiffs want federal approvals overturned and a court order stopping the3:00tow and sinking.3:01They challenged the Army Corps October two environmental assessment and permit3:04modification under Federal Environmental Review and Historic Preservation Laws.3:08The ship's one thousand nine hundred and ninety nine national register listing is3:12central to the preservation argument.3:14The plaintiffs also object to historic features being removed before the reef3:18decision was complete.3:19They seek renewed review, including the Federal Historic Preservation Consultation3:23Process.3:23The environmental allegations focus on chromium-bearing coatings, particularly zinc3:27chromate and hexavalent chromium.3:29The plaintiffs argue these could affect marine organisms and sediments, with3:32consequences reaching the food web and potentially people eating seafood.3:36The complaint cites coating tests and an assessment by University of Florida3:39biogeochemistry professor Todd Zee.3:42Osborne, it's fifty nine three hundred and thirty-four pound zinc chromate estimate3:46uses historical painting specifications and assumptions about surface area,3:49coverage, coats, and paint composition.3:51That estimate doesn't measure what's aboard today or predict how much would enter3:54the water.3:55The Army Corps says the limited samples can't determine the vessel, wide inventory,3:59or the concentration and rate of release after sinking.4:02Emergency requests to stop the operation were reportedly denied without prejudice on4:06November6 and again November7.4:08Issues included verification of the factual submission and an adequate bond to4:12protect the county against continued berthing and delay costs.4:15Those decisions allow renewed requests and don't settle the environmental claims.4:19The county is continuing with deployment plans.4:21Crews in Mobile performed extensive work to remove environmental contaminants.4:25They also cut openings throughout the ship so air and water can move quickly and4:29evenly during flooding.4:30That preparation has made the plan sinking physically concrete.4:33County Natural Resources Chief Alex Fogg says the ship meets regulatory cleaning4:37requirements.4:38He also says restoration had no viable plan or funding.4:41Those are the county's positions as it pursues the reef over the objections of the4:44new plaintiffs.4:45The ship itself cost one million dollars.4:48Preparation is reportedly another thirteen million dollars.4:51Those figures still haven't been reconciled with earlier county commitments and4:55contractor amendments into a final project bill.4:57Colleen Marine's original contract was seven million two hundred twenty-eight5:00thousand dollars.5:01A December two thousand and twenty-five amendment added two million nine hundred and5:04fifty thousand dollars, bringing that contractor commitment to ten million one5:07hundred and seventy-eight thousand dollars.5:08The work covered remediation, preparation, transport, and deployment.5:11The amendment included two dollars seven hundred and sixty six seven hundred twelve5:16in identified costs and one hundred and eighty-three dollars two hundred and5:19eighty-eight in contingency.5:21About two point two dollars million was attributed to unexpected costs associated5:25with getting the liner out of Philadelphia.5:27The explanations included more numerous or expensive towing requirements, extra5:31dockage, insurance, fuel, and regulatory requirements.5:34A March2026 account still described the contractor amount as about ten point one5:39dollars million.5:40A later amendment raised it again.5:41A September fifteenth amendment reportedly added one dollar two hundred forty two5:46zero, bringing the contractor amount to eleven dollars four hundred and twenty zero.5:49It included birth availability through December thirty one.5:53The executed amendment and a reconciliation with the later thirteen million dollar5:56preparation figure haven't been made clear.5:58The earlier ten point one dollars million county commitment covered acquisition,6:02transport, cleaning, and sinking.6:04These dated commitments can overlap.6:06Adding each appropriation, contract amount, and partner contribution would risk6:10counting the same expense more than once.6:12Reported contributions include two million dollars from the Fish and Wildlife6:15Foundation of Florida.6:16Visit Pensacola committed one point five dollars million, including construction and6:20marketing support.6:21Coastal Conservation Association Florida contributed five hundred dollars, zero its6:26largest single donation in its forty-year history.6:28The county says tourism revenue and partner contributions fund the project rather6:32than local property taxes.6:34Tourism bed taxes are still public revenue.6:36A complete itemized budget and final audited cost remain outstanding, along with a6:41clear account of museum financing.6:43The SS United States carried four American presidents and tens of thousands of6:47passengers.6:48It entered service in one thousand nine hundred and fifty two and set the passenger6:52liner transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage.6:55It retains that record.6:57Air travel displaced ocean crossings, and the liner left service in one thousand7:01nine hundred and sixty-nine.7:02It later spent almost thirty years in Philadelphia while museum.7:05Restaurant and redevelopment proposals failed to secure a lasting future.7:09Sinking would end its life as an above water ship.7:11Conservancy president Susan Gibbs is the granddaughter of William Francis Gibbs, the7:15ship's designer.7:17She supports carrying its history into the reef and an onshore museum.7:20She says the liner still casts a spell.7:22The removed funnels are intended to form bookends of the planned museum.7:26Its artifacts would include the bar from the tourist class smoking lounge.7:30The museum remains a plan, with its complete financing and opening still unresolved.7:34The Coast Guard has established a one hundred-yard moving safety zone around the7:37ship and participating tow vessels during active transit.7:40Entry requires authorization.7:42The rule operates within a November6 through November16 window, with enforcement7:46periods announced on Marine Channel16.7:48That moving restriction extends through the territorial sea boundary, about twelve7:52nautical miles offshore of Destin.7:54The planned sinking site lies farther out.7:57The safety zone rule deals with tow traffic.7:59Its environmental exemption concerns that rules affects.8:02The county anticipates hundreds of vessels could attend and tells bystanders to8:06follow the safety boats at the deployment site.8:08The moving tow zone doesn't define the sinking, site perimeter or authorized diving8:12afterward.8:13The tow has departed.8:14The send-off is cancelled, and Wednesday's one p.8:17m.8:17Central operation remains weather dependent.8:20Submergence and the final resting position still need confirmation.8:23The county hasn't announced when public diving will open.Read the articleStory timelineHeyDex
