Update on the Status of the SS United States (“Big U”)

February 18, 2026

 

In June 2024 the US District Court of Philadelphia issued a verdict in a lawsuit between the Penn Warehousing Company and the SS United States Conservancy regarding the ship’s lease at Philadelphia’s Pier 80.  The verdict ended the Conservancy’s lease, where the ship has been docked since 2011, effective September 2024.  The Conservancy conducted an extensive search for alternate sites to dock the ship but was unable to find a suitable berth.  The ship is almost 1000 feet long and has a draft of 28 feet.

As the best option available, the Conservancy sold the Big U to Okaloosa County, Florida in October 2024.  The new owners intend to sink the ship off the coast of Destin/Fort Walton Beach in the Florida panhandle as an artificial reef.  The ship will become the world’s largest artificial reef supporting marine life, sport diving and fishing.  The bottom of the ship will be about 150 feet below the surface with the top deck about 60 feet down.

In February/March 2025 the new owners had the ship towed out of Philadelphia harbor, down the Delaware River and South along the East Coast to Mobile, Alabama.  This 1,800-mile trip took only 12 days and keeping with its speed records the ship arrived early.  The ship had not been to sea in 28 years.  Significant cleaning and preparation of the ship is underway prior to sinking.  The ship still contained fuel oil and other hazardous materials.  The preparation is expected to be completed by April 2026.

The Conservancy and Okaloosa County are planning a land-based museum and visitor’s center to celebrate the long and significant history of the SS United States.  The two funnels from the ship and one of the propellors have been saved to be center pieces of the museum.  The museum will also house the Conservancy’s extensive collection of its Big U artifacts.  Planning for the museum is underway.