SS United States Departure Delayed by Weather

The historic SS United States, originally scheduled to depart from Philadelphia to Florida, has faced a delay due to logistical considerations and a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. Okaloosa County, Florida, which acquired the ship to transform it into the world's largest artificial reef, is coordinating with various agencies to ensure safe transport. The ship was set to embark on a two-week journey to Mobile, Alabama for environmental remediation before heading to its final destination off the Florida Panhandle. This move involves the closure of several bridges including the Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry bridges during its departure. The ship has been docked at Pier 82 for nearly three decades and holds the transatlantic speed record. A new departure date has not been announced yet, and the conversion process into a reef is expected to take about a year once the ship reaches Florida.