Okaloosa County Commissioners are set to vote on a $10.1 million project to transform the historic ocean liner SS United States into the world’s largest artificial reef off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

• The Board of County Commissioners will consider the purchase and sale agreement for the vessel at their regular meeting on October 1, 2024, and ratify the executed contract. 

The proposed budget includes $1 million for acquisition and additional funds for remediation, transport, deployment, and the establishment of a complementary land-based museum.

If all of this sounds familiar…that’s because it is.

This vote comes after a delay in September due to complications with dockage arrangements. The county is in court mediation, with the potential to have the ship remain at its current Philadelphia pier until December 12, 2024.

The project faced a setback when the SS United States Conservancy, the current owner of the ship, filed an urgent motion on September 11, seeking an extension of time at Pier 82. This led to a court hearing on September 13 and subsequent mediation, resulting in the current agreement. As a result, the overall project cost has increased from the original $9 million estimate.

• County staff have already invested $60,400 in due diligence tasks, including fuel tank surveys, PCB surveys, and hull inspections. Initial results have been favorable, with the ship deemed seaworthy.

The project has garnered significant financial support, with $6 million in firm partnership contributions already secured. County staff report over $10 million in additional funding opportunities under exploration.

“While the overall project budget is conservative at this time at $10.1 million, this is likely on the higher end, and it is expected that significant cost sharing will occur,” the agenda states.

If approved, the county aims to move the vessel from Philadelphia before the December 12 deadline. The Tourist Development Council has already recommended approval of the budget and associated contracts at its September 24 meeting.

The SS United States, launched in 1952, still holds the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner. At 990 feet long, it would surpass the USS Oriskany (888 feet) as the world’s largest intentional artificial reef.

• The project aims to boost local tourism and create new marine habitats off the Florida coast. County officials cite the success of the USS Oriskany, sunk off Pensacola in 2006, which attracts over 10,000 divers annually and generates approximately $3.6 million per year in direct spending.

Once the project moves forward, the county plans to close the purchase before October 15, contingent on meeting contract requirements. Future contracts and funding agreements will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for approval in accordance with established thresholds.