Date set to see the SS United towed away for sinking

The ship is set to be moved from her current docking area in south Philadelphia to a docking area in Mobile, Alabama where preparations will be made ahead of the sinking.

After 29 years being docked in Philadelphia, the vessel will depart on Saturday, February 8, at 4am local time.

The ship’s owner, Okaloosa County said that if visibility is an issue that morning, the move down river will take place at the next low tide.

She will be chaperoned by multiple tugboats as she makes her way down the Delaware River and into the Atlantic Ocean.

The SS United States was in service between 1952 and 1969 (Image: Okaloosa County) Okaloosa County have been caught in a row with the US Coastguard who previously stated the ship "may not have suitable stability for the intended transit and presents a hazardous condition to the port and waterway."

READ MORE: Diving trips could be launched to historic SS United States

Okaloosa County’s Tourist Development Department has now completed the necessary safety requirements by local, state and federal agencies to move the SS United States.

For 17 years the liner powered through the Atlantic making constant journeys between Southampton and New York, and was met crowds of almost 70,000 when she first came to Hampshire in 1952.

The SS United States was also the fastest ship in the world at the time.

The journey to Mobile, Alabama, is expected to take about two weeks and upon arrival contractors will remove hazardous material, including non-metal parts and fuel to ensure this deployment is not harmful to the environment.

Modifications will also be made to ensure that when the vessel is deployed, it will land upright underwater.

These preparations are expected to take about 12 months.

One deployed to the ocean floor, about 20 nautical miles south of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach, diving trips are set to be planed to the ship in the future.

There are also plans for an SS United States museum to be opened in Florida.