Brooklyn Businessman Proposes Alternative Future for S.S. United States
Brooklyn entrepreneur John Quadrozzi Jr. has put forth a visionary alternative for the iconic S.S. United States, currently docked in Philadelphia and earmarked for Mobile, Alabama, where it will become the world’s largest artificial reef. Quadrozzi, who owns the Gowanus Bay Terminal, envisions transforming the vessel into a sustainable "floating ecosystem" featuring coworking spaces, incubators, and environmentally-focused businesses, taking advantage of the ship’s many small compartments.
Alongside his supporter, Dan McSweeney—co-founder of a conservancy dedicated to preserving the S.S. United States—Quadrozzi is racing against the clock to pitch this innovative concept before the ship’s planned departure, which was recently delayed due to weather concerns. Once a new departure date is established, the hefty tugboats will tow the historic liner to Mobile, where it will undergo modifications before being sunk to create an artificial reef.
Quadrozzi has expressed skepticism about the ship’s safe journey, questioning whether such a massive vessel can navigate the treacherous waters around Florida. He remains committed to advocating for the S.S. United States to stay in the Northeast, although officials from Okaloosa County, which has already purchased the ship, have reported no communication from him regarding his plans. They reiterated their commitment to the ship’s transformation into a reef.
The S.S. United States was launched in 1951, originally designed as a secret troop carrier during the Cold War, and has since hosted some of the most notable figures in American history, including four presidents and numerous celebrities. As debates over its future unfold, Quadrozzi’s call for a sustainable vision offers a glimpse into alternative prospects for this historic vessel.
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