Okaloosa County plans to sink the ocean liner SS United States off the coast of Florida on Nov. 12, weather permitting, creating the world’s largest artificial reef. A federal court on Friday rejected a motion to halt the operation.
According to Scuba News, the ship is to leave the port of Mobile, Alabama, on Monday, Nov. 9. The sinking is planned for about 22 nautical miles (about 41 km) southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. It is set to take place on Thursday, Nov. 12. Okaloosa County has released details of the schedule, safety measures and viewing locations for the public.
The SS United States is 990 feet (about 302 m) long. In 1952, it set the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing and, according to sources, still holds it. Once sunk, it will take the title of the largest vessel intentionally sunk as a reef from the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, which was sunk off Pensacola in 2006.
The county bought the ship for $1 million. According to Fox 13, the project was funded entirely with tourism revenue and contributions from partners. The Coastal Conservation Association Florida donated $500,000. Officials are counting on benefits for the environment and for dive tourism. The wreck is to join the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail, a route of more than 20 wrecks accessible to divers.
After the sinking, scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and Louisiana State University will monitor the reef. They will study its biological, physical and chemical parameters. The SS United States Conservancy wants to build a museum in Florida in the future to display memorabilia from the ship.
The SS United States Preservation Foundation and one of its co-founders sued the Army Corps of Engineers and Okaloosa County this week. They argue that the environmental impact and historic preservation issues were not adequately studied before the project was approved. On Friday, Nov. 6, federal Judge M. Casey Rodgers denied a motion for a temporary order blocking the operation. The date of the sinking depends on the weather.
Source: WLRN
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Source: Słoneczne Radio
