Famous abandoned cruise ship left to rot for 30 years could be sunk on purpose in new plan
A cruise ship which once carried famous celebrities, may soon find its place under the sea after having been abandoned in Philadelphia for 30 years.
Plans are underway to sink the SS United States cruise ship off the coast of Florida to create the world’s largest artificial reef.
The proposal, which is still in negotiation with the U.S. District Court, would see the 1,000-foot ship transferred from Philadelphia to Florida’s Destin-Fort Walton Beach. It would then be sunk in hopes of becoming a new habitat for marine life and attracting divers and anglers from around the world.
The agreement is between Okaloosa Country, Florida, a local beach, and the SS United States Conservancy - the organisation dedicated to preserving what once was the fastest cruise liner in the world.
A statement by Okaloosa Country said: "The sunken ship will be a home for a diverse range of marine life and attract divers and anglers from around the world."
However, a long clean-up process is required to place the SS United States ship underwater. It is estimated that it will take over a year to complete environmental remediation on the ship and between six months and a year to arrange transportation and its final deployment.
READ MORE: Crystal Cruises DROPS plans to transform iconic SS United States [LATEST]
The cruise liner was originally built in the 1950s to move armed forces during wartime. It later carried dignitaries and celebrities across the Atlantic Ocean, including John F. Kennedy and Walt Disney.
From 1996, the cruise liner sat abandoned following multiple ownership changes and in 2021 the owners were instructed to relocate the ship from the Delaware River after they had stopped paying rent.
If the plan is successful, it will generate millions of tourism revenue, which will benefit local businesses such as hotels and scuba shops.
Okaloosa County’s tourism director, Jennifer Adams, said: "This will be an exciting addition to our artificial reefs and wrecks and will provide essential habitat for fish."
DON'T MISS:
Cruise ship passengers to finally leave after 4 months stuck in UK city [MAP]
Disney Cruise Line makes history with never-visited private island [REVEAL]
The world's most incredible abandoned places - photos [PICTURES ]
There are also plans to open a museum which will honour the history of the ship. The museum would be funded by Okaloosa County and operated by SS United States Conservancy.
Susan Gibbs, head of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of the ship’s designer, told The New York Times: "It’s not what I initially envisioned after spending years trying to save her [the SS United States]."
But now she sees the project as a chance to "write a new chapter for the SS United States as a world-class destination."
