How to track SS United States as it moves out of Philadelphia after nearly 30 years
After months of delays, the historic SS United States ocean liner finally moved out of Philadelphia today on a new voyage as it prepares to become the world's largest artificial reef off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico.
The SS United States has been docked at a South Philadelphia pier for nearly 30 years. The ship moved for the first time in 28 years from Pier 82 to Pier 80 on Friday at high tide as part one of the moving operation began. Today, the nation's sole surviving ocean liner left the Delaware River to be towed on a two-week journey to Mobile, Alabama, where reefing preparations will be made.
You can track the ship's journey via GPS or online here. The tracking will start once the vessel begins the moving operations, according to a release from Okaloosa County's Tourism Development Department.
You can watch the first 30 minutes of its journey on our YouTube channel.
The ship passed under various bridges, including the Walt Whitman Bridge (I-76), the Commodore Barry Bridge (U.S. 322) and the Delaware Memorial Bridge (I-295). Instead of closing the Delaware River Port Authority bridges, there were temporary traffic stops on the Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry bridges as the ship passed through to minimize driver distraction.
"Today, the nation's sole surviving ocean liner will glide down the Delaware River to begin the next chapter in her uniquely American story. As the fastest ship to ever cross the Atlantic travels for the first time since arriving in Philadelphia in 1996, we are reminded of the postwar high-water mark that the SS United States so gracefully and powerfully embodied when she was launched in 1951," SS United States Conservancy President Susan Gibbs said in a statement.
"Now under the care of new owners, the ship will forever symbolize our nation's strength, innovation, and resilience. During this period of intense political polarization, America's Flagship, built through a public-private partnership as a luxury liner and a top-secret, high-speed, troop transport to protect our national interests overseas, illustrates the power and the promise of coalescing around a common cause."
In October 2024, officials in Okaloosa County, Florida, purchased the SS United States for $10 million with plans to sink the ship to create an artificial reef off Destin-Fort Walton Beach and open up a land-based museum and visitor center.
Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy and the granddaughter of the ship's designer, previously said the team is committed to creating a state-of-the-art museum infusing modern-day technology with original artifacts and artwork from the SSUS. There are plans to incorporate one or both of the ship's funnels and radar mast and recreate areas of the vessel using original materials.
"This next chapter of the SS United States' story will bring tens of thousands of people annually from around the world to experience her," Gibbs said in October 2024.
Originally built to move troops in the event of war, the SS United States was eventually converted into a cruise liner and was considered the fastest ship in the world at the time.
Throughout its 17 years on the high seas, some of the SS US' famous passengers included four U.S. Presidents (Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and a young Bill Clinton) as well as Judy Garland, Coco Chanel, Sean Connery, Marilyn Monroe and Walt Disney.
The "will-they-won't-they" battle of the SS United States' departure has been nothing short of eventful. The historic vessel's departure from Philadelphia waters was scheduled, rescheduled and then rescheduled again after concerns over weather and a potential bridge strike. This followed a hefty legal battle and burglary in the fall.
Jennifer Adams, who is the tourism director of Okaloosa County, said the ship has always been in her sights.
"We have about 571 structures that are already in network of reefs," Adams said. "She'll be 180 feet down but her top deck because the stacks will come off, the top deck will be at about 50 to 55 feet."
Crowds gather along Delaware River to say goodbye to SS United States
Dozens of people braved the bitter cold to say goodbye to the SS United States as the retired ocean liner heads to Alabama.
A crowd stood along a fence on Christopher Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia, hoping to catch a glimpse of the ship for the very last time.
"We're pretty sad about it because it's something that every single time we pass by and I always point it out to my daughters," Melissa Espinal, from South Philadelphia, said.
Many people have fond memories of the SS United States.
Warren Jones was a passenger on the ship from the 50s. For him, the ship's departure was a sentimental and bittersweet entry in this proud vessel's story.
"There's some positive feelings," Jones said. "We know her future now. It was uncertain for several years, and we know her future now. That's comforting. But it's a sad day, it's a sad day. This was her home for almost 30 years."
"The fact that I actually sailed on that ship twice as a kid," Russell Frisbie, from East Falls, said. "It was used to transport private individuals, U.S. government employees and their families."
The mood was bittersweet as the SS United States traveled down the Delaware River Wednesday afternoon.
"I think it would have been really nice to see it stay here and become something," Jillian Johnston, from Northeast Philadelphia, said. "There were talks of it becoming hotel, casino, restaurant things like that. So that would have been really nice, but the cost was just astronomical."
Some said they had mixed feelings about the ship being sunk to become an artificial reef in Florida.
"I imagine it will increase the fish population and create a home, a habitat that could use it," Christopher Devern, from Northeast Philadelphia, said. "I like to fish a lot myself."
John Rice, from Aston, said he is hoping to learn how to dive so he can visit the SS United States in Okaloosa County.
"At least the ship is getting repurposed," Rice said. "It's not going to a scrapyard. It will be something you can maybe see one day."
Read more about the SS United States
Our news team has been on your corner covering the SS United States for nearly 15 years. Here's a look at some of our previous coverage.
- Dick Vermeil, former Eagles' coach, serving as pitchman for ship's preservation (2012)
- Documentary film about SS United States conjures up memories (2012)
- New Jersey police officer visits SS United States ship after 45-day-long COVID battle (2022)
- Dispute between SS United States Conservancy and Penn Warehousing has historic ocean liner facing eviction (2024)
- SS United States could be sunk off Florida coastline as part of artificial reef, sources say (2024)
- SS United States burglarized days after agreement to move ship from Philadelphia to Florida for artificial reef (2024)
- Dozens take cruise to see SS United States in Philadelphia despite departure date postponed again (2024)
- Progress made to ensure SS United States can leave Philadelphia waters safely, Coast Guard says (2024)
