Port CitySaturday, November 7
A federal judge denied a bid to block the SS United States sinking
The Mobile Daily News team
If you've been watching the SS United States in Mobile, you have a few days left. A federal judge in Florida rejected an attempt Friday to stop the tow and sinking. Judge M. Casey Rodgers wrote that the docket had no verified complaint or affidavit and that the foundation proposed no bond amount. The foundation filed a new motion Friday with an affidavit from co-founder Carlos Camacho Jr.
The legal fight and the ship's exit are days apart
- Nov. 3The preservation foundation files suit in the Northern District of Florida.
- Nov. 4The foundation files an emergency motion for a restraining order and injunction.
- Nov. 6A federal judge denies the injunction request; the foundation files a new motion.
- Nov. 9Okaloosa County plans to tow the ship out of Mobile.
- Nov. 12Okaloosa County plans to sink the ship to create a reef.
Sources: Jets Wire, FOX10 News, Lagniappe Daily
The foundation sued the Army Corps of Engineers and Okaloosa County, alleging the Corps approved the project without adequately studying environmental risks. WEAR reports the group claims toxic paint could contaminate Gulf waters, while the Corps concluded the project wouldn't cause significant environmental harm.
- Divers: the wreck would open the day after the sinking
- In Mobile: since March 2025 for deep cleaning
- Expected draw: many thousands of visitors a year, the county says
- Foundation's stance: opposes the choice of ship, not the reef program
The ship's sinking by the numbers
- 990 feet
- long, the ocean liner to be sunk
- 22
- nautical miles southwest of Destin, where it would go down
- 45 minutes
- for the sinking, Okaloosa County says
Sources: Jets Wire, FOX10 News
Okaloosa County spokesman Nick Tomecek said some tanks are already filled with water, with more to be filled the morning of Nov. 12.
Sources: FOX10 News, Lagniappe Daily, WEAR-TV, Jets Wire