HIGH WINDS FURTHER DELAY SS UNITED STATES' DEPARTURE FROM PHILADELPHIA

HISTORIC OCEAN LINER NOW SET TO LEAVE

ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19

After careful consideration and out of an abundance of caution, Florida's Okaloosa County has announced that the departure of the SS United States from Philadelphia has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 19, 2025 due to continued high wind conditions. We realize these repeated delays have been challenging, but we are committed to sharing these updates with you as we receive them. 

Tugboats are now expected to maneuver the SS United States out into the Delaware River channel two to three hours before low tide. She will then proceed down river at approximately 12:51pm. The ship will pass under various bridges, including the Walt Whitman Bridge (I-76), the Commodore Barry Bridge (U.S. 322), and the Delaware Memorial Bridge (I-295) along her route, with the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) coordinating bridge closures. 

During the SS United States' two-week tow along the eastern seaboard, Okaloosa's contractors will be utilizing real-time route planning, which will adjust the ship's course every 6-hours based on weather and currents. This makes her specific route and timing challenging to predict. You can track the ship's course HERE.

Please Note: These times and date remain tentative and are subject to change due to weather and other factors. We will continue to keep you informed as plans advance. 

REMINDER: VIEWING THE SS UNITED STATES' DEPARTURE FROM PHILADELPHIA

We recognize that many of our supporters are interested in seeing America's Flagship depart from Philadelphia either in-person or tracking her progress online.

To facilitate your participation, a livestream will be broadcast on the SS United States Conservancy's Facebook page. (NOTE: A facebook account is not required to view the livestream. Simply go to www.facebook.com/ssusc and the stream will appear at the top of the page when it goes live.) The stream will go live at approximately Noon on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 in advance of America's Flagship passing under the Walt Whitman Bridge.

Because Piers 82 and 80 are both within an area secured by the Transportation Security Administration (part of the Department of Homeland Security), the general public cannot access the piers. Potential viewing locations include:

• The IKEA parking lot at 2206 S Columbus Blvd in Philadelphia.
• The second-floor cafeteria at IKEA, which is open from 11:00am - 7:00pm
• Waterfront public parks such as Phoenix Park at 227 Jefferson Street in Camden, New Jersey.

There are also several potential vantage points along the Delaware River south of the Walt Whitman Bridge. The include:

• Proprietors Park (225 S King St, Gloucester City, NJ 08030)
• Fort Mifflin (6400 Hog Island Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19153)
• Red Bank Battlefield (100 Hessian Ave, National Park, NJ 08063)
• Fort Nassau (110 New Jersey Rd, Brooklawn, NJ 08030)
• RiverWinds Complex (1000 RiverWinds Drive, West Deptford, NJ 08086)