We recently posted about a tentative deal to sell the historic ocean liner SS United States to be sunk to create the world’s largest artificial reef, off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, FL in the Gulf of Mexico. That deal is now in jeopardy as the battle between the non-profit SS United States Conservancy and the operator of Pier 82, Penn Warehousing, took a new turn throwing the fate of the ship back in the hands of the US District Court.
CBS News reports that a federal magistrate judge will oversee mediation between SS United States Conservancy, the operators of Pier 82 in Philadelphia and officials from Okaloosa County, Florida, a judge ruled in a virtual hearing Friday.
In a hearing on Zoom on Friday morning, the federal judge said this is the best option going forward.
The hearing comes one day after SS United States Conservancy, which owns the SS United States, filed a motion to keep the ship docked in Philadelphia until December.
The historic ship was supposed to leave its dock on the Delaware River on Thursday, but the departure date has been delayed again.
Last month, a plan was revealed to sink the SS United States — a historic vessel and record-holder for the fastest transatlantic crossing — in the Gulf of Mexico and repurpose it as an artificial reef for divers.
Those plans hit a snag when Okaloosa County commissioners delayed a vote due to a wrinkle with Pier 82 operators.
Behind the scenes, tensions began escalating, with attorneys for the ship and the pier accusing each other of acting in bad faith.
On Friday, a judge cut through much of the noise, and both sides indicated the only plan for the ship was to prep it and sink it.
In a statement, the SS United States Conservancy said it welcomed the ruling for mediation.
“We are grateful that the Judge’s earlier order for the ship to be removed from Pier 82 was held in abeyance as we continue to work in good faith to resolve this dispute and relocate the vessel safely,” the SSUSC said.
“We remain steadfast in our determination to ensure that the legacy of America’s Flagship endures and inspires future generations. While we were disappointed that Penn Warehousing continues to disparage and denigrate both the Conservancy and the historic symbol of our nation, we hope that Penn Warehousing will enter mediation in good faith.”
Below is a short video from CBS Sunday Morning of Feb. 17, 2013 about the glamorous history of the ship.
How incredibly sad that this great ship is still mired in argument and controversy. As a nation our government should have saved her for reuse and for prosperity as a living museum to this great age of sea travel my parents knew. Let her rest in peace now on the ocean floor as a reef where divers like myself can pay our last respects.