The "Big U" is finally moving. If you’ve been following the saga of the fastest ocean liner ever built, you know this isn't just another dry maritime update. It’s a funeral and a rebirth happening at the same time. People are scrambling to track SS United States as she leaves her rusted nest in Philadelphia, a spot she called home for nearly thirty years. It’s weird seeing that massive hull actually cut through the water again, even if she isn't under her own power.
She’s a ghost. A 990-foot ghost that still holds the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing. Honestly, it’s kind of heartbreaking. But if you want to know where she is right this second, you have to look at the tugboats.
Since the ship has no engines—well, no working engines—she can’t broadcast her own AIS (Automatic Identification System) signals like a modern cruise ship would. To find her, you’ve got to follow the escort.
The Logistics of Moving a Legend
Moving a ship this big is a nightmare. You don't just turn a key. The SS United States Conservancy had to coordinate with the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners after a long, messy legal battle with the landlords at Pier 82. It came down to a "get out or else" situation. Now, the plan is to turn her into the world’s largest artificial reef off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
So, how do you actually see the progress? You look for the tugs. Specifically, you’ll want to check sites like MarineTraffic or VesselFinder for the names of the lead tugboats assigned to the tow. Usually, a tow of this magnitude involves a primary tug and several harbor assists. In the initial phases of the move out of the Delaware River, watch for names associated with the McAllister Towing or Moran Towing fleets, as they frequently handle these massive industrial shifts.
The voyage isn't a straight shot. Weather dictates everything. A ship with that much "sail area"—the flat side of the hull that catches the wind—can become an unguided missile if a gale blows in. They’ll likely tuck into "holes" or protected anchorages if the Atlantic gets moody.
Why everyone is watching
It’s about the history. In 1952, this ship was the peak of American engineering. She was built to be a secret weapon, capable of being converted into a troopship that could carry 14,000 soldiers 10,000 miles without refueling. She was fast. Scary fast. On her maiden voyage, she averaged 35.59 knots. To put that in perspective, most modern cruise ships cruise at about 20 knots.
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Watching the tracker isn't just about geography; it's about watching the end of an era of riveted steel and mid-century glamour.
Reality Check: The Reefing Process
Some people are furious. They wanted her to be a hotel like the Queen Mary in Long Beach. But the math didn't work. It would have cost hundreds of millions of dollars to remediate the PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) issues and the lead paint. The interior is a hollowed-out shell. There’s nothing left inside but echoes and old wiring.
When you track SS United States on her final journey south, you’re tracking a ship headed for a massive cleanup. Before she can be sunk, she has to go to a specialized facility—likely in the Gulf—where every scrap of hazardous material is stripped away. This takes months. It’s not a "tow and sink" afternoon.
Okaloosa County is spending upwards of $10 million on this. They aren't doing it just for fun; they want the dive tourism. Imagine diving through those iconic funnels. They’re huge. You could fit a fleet of school buses inside them.
What to look for on the map
If you’re refreshing the map, don’t expect high speeds. A tow like this usually moves at about 5 or 6 knots. It’s a crawl.
- The Delaware River Exit: This is the trickiest part. Low tide, bridge clearances (the Walt Whitman and the Delaware Memorial), and narrow channels.
- The Chesapeake Bypass: Depending on the route, they might stay well offshore to avoid coastal traffic.
- Cape Hatteras: The "Graveyard of the Atlantic." This is where the tow masters will be sweating. If a storm kicks up here, the SS United States becomes a massive liability.
- The Florida Straits: Once she rounds the tip of Florida, she’s in home waters.
The Tech Behind the Track
You’ve probably used GPS to find a Starbucks, but tracking a dead ship is a bit more nuanced. Since the SS United States is a "dead ship" tow, she’s essentially a barge right now.
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Maritime tracking relies on VHF radio bursts. Every few minutes, the tugs transmit their position, speed, and heading. This data is picked up by terrestrial stations and satellites. If the tow goes far offshore, the terrestrial "free" versions of tracking sites might lag. You might see the icon stop moving for a few hours. Don't panic. It just means the ship is out of range of land-based antennas and hasn't had a satellite refresh yet.
It’s also worth following local ship-spotter groups on social media. People in places like Cape May or the Outer Banks will often post "visuals" long before the GPS coordinates update. There is something deeply human about a guy with a pair of binoculars and a long-lens camera confirming that the ship is still upright and moving.
Misconceptions about the "Sink"
A lot of folks think they're just going to open the valves and let her drop.
Nope.
It's a surgical operation. They use "sinking charges" or controlled flooding to ensure she lands upright. If she flips on her side, she’s useless as a dive site and a hazard to navigation. The goal is to have her sit on the sandy bottom in about 180 feet of water, with her upper decks reachable by recreational divers and the deep hull reserved for technical divers.
The Cultural Weight of a Hull
Why do we care?
Maybe it's because she represents a time when the U.S. felt like it could build anything. William Francis Gibbs, the architect, was obsessed with her. He famously hated wood because of the fire risk—the only wood on the ship was the butcher blocks and a grand piano (and even that was a special fire-resistant mahogany).
When you track SS United States, you’re following the final movement of a vessel that carried presidents, royalty, and Hollywood stars. Marilyn Monroe sailed on her. So did Walt Disney. It’s a floating piece of 1950s ambition that survived long enough to see the age of the internet.
Honestly, the reefing is a better fate than the scrapyard in Alang, India. At least this way, she stays in American waters. She becomes a habitat for red snapper and grouper. She stays "alive" in a biological sense, even if the engines are forever silent.
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The Final Timeline
The tow to the Gulf is just phase one. If you’re tracking her, expect the signal to eventually "stop" at a shipyard for several months. This is the remediation phase.
- Departure: Philadelphia, PA (Pier 82).
- Transit: Southbound along the Eastern Seaboard.
- Stopover: Likely a Gulf Coast shipyard (Mobile, Alabama or similar) for cleaning.
- The Drop: Off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
The actual sinking likely won’t happen until late 2025 or even 2026, depending on the EPA clearances and weather windows. It’s a slow-motion goodbye.
How to get the best data
If you want to be a pro at this, don't just use one site. Use a combination of AIS data and live port cameras. Most major ports have "bridge cams" or "harbor cams" that are free to watch.
- MarineTraffic: Good for general location, but the "Satellite" filter costs money.
- VesselFinder: Similar to MarineTraffic, often has slightly different refresh rates.
- Facebook Groups: Search for "SS United States Conservancy" or "Shipspotters." These people are obsessive. They will find the tugboat names before the news outlets do.
- Local News: Sites like the Philadelphia Inquirer or Florida’s Northwest Florida Daily News will have boots on the ground.
Don't expect a lot of fanfare during the tow itself. It's a high-risk industrial move. The companies involved generally prefer to keep a low profile to avoid crowds of "looky-loos" in small boats getting in the way of the tugs. If you’re out on the water trying to see her, stay way back. A 1,000-foot ship under tow has a stopping distance measured in miles, not feet.
The Actionable Side of the Story
If you’re a diver, start planning your trips now. This is going to be the "Everest" of wreck diving in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Check your certs: If she’s sitting at 180 feet, you’re going to need more than an Open Water certification. Look into Advanced Open Water and Nitrox at a minimum; Deep Diver or Tech 40/45 if you want to see the hull.
- Follow the Conservancy: Even after the ship is underwater, the SS United States Conservancy is planning a land-based museum. They saved the artifacts. The radar mast, the bells, the menus—they’ll still be accessible to people who don't want to get wet.
- Support Maritime Preservation: This whole ordeal happened because there wasn't enough money to keep her docked. If you care about the SS United States, look at other ships like the USS Olympia (also in Philly and also struggling).
Tracking the SS United States isn't just about a blip on a map. It’s about witnessing the closing of a chapter in American history. It’s a long, slow walk to a final resting place, but at least we get to watch her one last time before she goes under.
The move is finally happening. Keep your eyes on the tugs, watch the weather at Cape Hatteras, and say goodbye to the fastest lady to ever cross the sea. She’s going to be a hell of a reef.