Judge clears path for Okaloosa County to sink SS United States
A federal court rejected an emergency bid by a preservation group to stop the 990-foot vessel from becoming an artificial reef off the Florida coast.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Okaloosa County will proceed with sinking the SS United States off the Florida coast despite a last-minute legal challenge from a preservation group.
U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers rejected an emergency motion for a preliminary injunction filed by the SS United States Preservation Foundation. The judge determined the foundation's request relied heavily on hearsay and ignored the substantial costs of holding the vessel. Rodgers noted that the motion failed to account for the expenses of berthing, mooring, and storing a ship of that size.
The county plans to begin towing the vessel from a Mobile, Alabama shipyard on Monday. The 990-foot liner, which the county purchased for $10 million in 2024, is scheduled to be submerged 22 miles offshore on Nov. 12. This date falls one day after Veterans Day. County spokesperson Nick Tomecek stated that the project would create the world's largest artificial reef, making the site available for divers, marine life, and fishermen.
The preservation foundation argued that the timing of the sinking was poorly chosen because the ship was built by World War II veterans. Carlos Camacho Jr., the foundation's co-founder, called the plan tone-deaf. He said in a news release that it was odd to honor veterans on one day and sink their creation the next.
The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Florida, targets both Okaloosa County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The foundation claims the Corps approved the project without adequately examining environmental risks or following historic preservation rules. The suit alleges that environmental experts raised concerns about toxic paint on the ship. Specifically, the foundation points to chromium-6 detected in coatings above the waterline. They argue this compound was not evaluated for permanent seawater exposure and could harm aquatic life or contaminate the local seafood supply.
The foundation also contends that the county began dismantling the ship before finishing a required preservation review. This process resulted in the removal of historic features such as the funnels, radar mast, and portholes. Although Rodgers allowed the foundation to refile the suit, she required any future motions to propose a bond amount sufficient to cover storage expenses and to be supported by a reasonable factual basis.
The SS United States was launched in 1952 and decommissioned in 1969. During its active years, the vessel crossed the Atlantic in three days and carried passengers including John Wayne, Grace Kelly, and Harry S. Truman. The foundation maintains that its mission to preserve the ship remains unchanged while also seeking to inform the public about potential environmental harm.
