The historic ocean liner SS United States appears to be heading to the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area. The vessel was wanted by Escambia and Okaloosa counties as an artificial reef, but Okaloosa County and the SS United States Conservancy announced Tuesday that the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners had approved a conditional contract to acquire the ship and convert it into the largest artificial reef in the world. reef, a record currently held by the Oriskany off the coast of Escambia County.

According to Okaloosa, part of the agreement would also include funding from the county to support the Conservancy’s creation of an innovative land-based museum that will provide divers, residents and visitors the opportunity to learn about the heritage of the American flagship.

Okaloosa County signed an agreement to purchase the ship in August after the Escambia Tourism Development Council (TDC) decided to postpone a discussion on purchasing the large liner. Escambia County had initially sought a possible deal to buy the ship and sink it in the Gulf of Mexico off county waters as an artificial reef, but Escambia County leaders were not as adamant in obtaining the SS United States as leaders of Okaloosa County.

Okaloosa County has made buying and sinking ships through tourism development taxes a priority in recent years, which has made the Destin area a diving destination. It’s an effort some hoped Escambia County would replicate, saying the vessel would put Escambia County back on the map with divers and bring in more money and business. Although the Oriskany continues to draw into the gulf off Pensacola, it is submerged so deeply that it is accessible only to highly trained divers.

Last month, divers, charter boat captains and other members of the Escambia Marine Advisory Committee and Department of Natural Resources asked the Escambia County Board of Commissioners to consider funding the purchase of the ship – a demand of at least $7 million. However, while some commissioners were supportive of the idea, most of the four men on the board were not very enthusiastic about paying with General Fund or option sales tax money local authorities, in part because they felt there were other spending priorities. .

Board Chairman Steven Barry mentioned at the time that he wanted an indoor sports facility in District 5, while Commissioner Lumon May said the aging Pensacola Bay Center needed millions of dollars in improvements and repairs. The board encouraged supporters of the project to ask the TDC for money, which ultimately agreed to give $1 million toward the purchase of the SS United States. At the same meeting, the TDC agreed to spend $90 million in tax dollars to build an indoor sports facility at Ashton-Brosnaham Park in District 5 and make improvements to the Bay Center, a costly proposal that has raised questions and concerns from other cities and business leaders.

Escambia misses an opportunity: Okaloosa agrees to purchase SS United States after Escambia tourism board postpones talks

In September, Escambia’s board of directors approved a sponsorship campaign to raise funds for the purchase of the vessel. They also agreed to allow staff to seek up to $2 million in RESTORE funds to help with the project. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Foundation also agreed to give $3 million to Escambia County for the effort and the Escambia County Aquatic Resource Management Fund committed an additional $400,000. Between those funds and private contributions, Escambia County had raised nearly $5.5 million for the project, but the county did not have enough money to make a bid, while Okaloosa County did.

Okaloosa says the deal to acquire the vessel from Conservancy could be reached in the coming weeks and is contingent on the conclusion of ongoing U.S. District Court-mandated mediation. The ship would then be moved from Philadelphia, where it has been docked for 30 years and where the court ordered it to leave, once initial preparations and a towing plan are complete. Okaloosa says a conservative allocation of up to $10.1 million is estimated for the acquisition, remediation, transportation and deployment of the historic liner, as well as partial funding to help create the land museum and the Conservancy’s immersive experience.

The ship sailed: Escambia County raises funds for SS United States in race to purchase

“Once deployed off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, at nearly 1,000 feet long, the SS United States will be home to diverse marine life and attract divers and fishermen from around the world,” Okaloosa County said in a press release. “The purchase of the SS United States will continue the growth of Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s robust artificial reef program, the most active and one of the largest collections of ship-based artificial reefs in the United States.

Escambia Marine Advisory Board Chairman Kerry Freeland supported the purchase of the vessel and he is disappointed for the businesses and diving community that could have profited and benefited from its installation here.

“It could cause us to lose some of our visiting divers,” Freeland said. “They might end up staying there instead of here, which could hurt our tourism in that if they plan to do the Oriskany, they’ll take a day trip here instead of staying here and dive while they’re here.

The Escambia County Department of Natural Resources remains committed to growing the county’s artificial reef program and is exploring other vessel opportunities, but nothing is ready for discussion yet.

This article originally appeared in the Pensacola News Journal: Okaloosa County wins bid for SS United States to sink as reef.