The historic ocean liner the SS United States appears to be staying at a Philadelphia dock for now after the U.S. Coast Guard halted plans to move the SS United States from its port along the Delaware River, citing safety concerns.
The vessel was sold by its longtime stewards, the SS United States Conservancy, to Okaloosa County, Florida, where local officials plan to scuttle it and transform it into an artificial reef to promote diving tourism off the Florida coast.
Okaloosa County officials had announced a plan to tow the ocean liner down the Delaware and into the Atlantic. Coast Guard officials, however, have ordered it held at its dock over concerns about its ability to survive the journey.
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An order to keep the vessel docked noted concerns about its overall condition, oily residue and a potentially compromised tank in its port wing.
"This [Captain of the Port] order allows for testing to be conducted to make sure the vessel can withstand a trip and to test its seaworthiness," Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Olinda Romero wrote in an email to NJ Advance Media. "We are still awaiting results from the testing that is occurring, so we do not currently have an update on that end."
Okaloosa County officials remain optimistic about the vessel's seaworthiness. An engineer hired by Okaloosa ensured its stability during a recent assessment, county spokesperson Nick Tomecek said.
The order calls for the county to provide paperwork about the vessel's structure integrity and secure loose barrels of fuel.
"Okaloosa County is confident in the ship's ability to complete a safe move and future deployment as the world's largest artificial reef that will be located in the Gulf of Mexico near Destin- Fort Walton Beach, Florida," spokesperson Nick Tomecek wrote in an email Tuesday. "As we work with local, state and federal agencies, we are all in agreement that we should take the appropriate steps to make sure she is moved safely and we are actively taking those steps right now."
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