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Why the Coast Guard issued an order preventing the movement of the SS United States

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Why the Coast Guard issued an order preventing the movement of the SS United States

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After an agreement was made to sink the historic SS United States off the coast of Florida as the world’s largest artificial reef, Coast Guard documents say the ship might not be fit to make the trip from Philadelphia.

Okaloosa County, Florida, failed to provide sufficient information in its initial tow plan for the SS United States, a Nov. 20 Captain of the Port Order issued by U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Kate Higgins-Bloom says. The ship, which has been evicted from its port on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, must be towed to Alabama to be prepared for sinking.

Okaloosa County, which purchased the ship from the SS United States Conservancy in September, canceled the original plan to move the ship starting Nov. 15. That day, the Coast Guard conducted an assessment of the ship, the order says, and found it “may not have suitable stability for the intended transit and presents a hazardous condition to the port and waterway.”

On a subsequent Coast Guard visit to the ship, a potentially compromised tank in a port wing was identified, “which may also further impact the vessel’s stability and structural integrity,” the order says. The purpose of the tank was not clarified. A large amount of oily residue was present in or around the ship, as well, according to the order.

When the county came into possession of the ship, there were hazardous materials in or on it, including but not limited to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), lead-containing paint, asbestos and fuel oil, according to the purchase agreement. Whether the materials have been removed is unknown.

The following requirements must be met before the ship can move, the Coast Guard order says:

  • A comprehensive report prepared by an experienced company must be submitted. The report must assess the ship’s structural condition, watertight integrity, towing condition, onboard liquid loading, center of gravity and ability to traverse certain wave conditions.
  • If the hull is found to be compromised, a report must be submitted detailing how it will be managed during the trip to Alabama.
  • A tow plan including emergency anchorage sites and ports of safe harbor along the transit route, as well as a communications plan, must be submitted.
  • Authorization must be obtained for the tugboats, which must have horsepower adequate to control the ship during movement.
  • To mitigate pollution risks in the event of flooding or dewatering operations, all large quantities of oil not stored in sealed tanks must be relocated to sealed tanks.

Failure to comply with the order is punishable by an up to $114,630 fine each day the ship is in violation.

Okaloosa County paid the SS United States Conservancy $1 million for the ship “as is,” according to the purchase agreement, and will put another $1 million toward an SS United States museum. The agreement also required the county to pay Penn Warehousing, the owner of Philadelphia Pier 82, the following:

  • An initial $50,000 lease payment,
  • Daily rent equal to $3,400 a day, retroactive to Sept. 12,
  • A maximum of $200,000 for pier repairs and
  • A $100,000 penalty if the ship remains at Pier 82 past Dec. 12.

The purchase of the ship and any related fines have been or will be paid through tourism bed tax revenue, Okaloosa County spokesman Nick Tomecek said.

Tomecek also said an updated Captain of the Port Order may be issued later this week.

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Did you sail on the SS United States? Shannon Marvel McNaught wants to hear your story. Contact her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.

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