# Okaloosa County Increases SS United States Contract

Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners has approved a **$1.242 million** budget increase for the SS United States artificial reef project, raising the total contract value with Coleen Marine to **$11.42 million**. This funding secures a berth for the vessel in Mobile, Alabama, through the end of 2026 and covers regulatory compliance and dockage fees during the pending deployment phase, which is awaiting final approval from the Army Corps of Engineers. This action reflects ongoing local and federal collaboration to repurpose the historic vessel as an artificial reef, with implications for maritime environmental management and coastal infrastructure.

- The contract with Coleen Marine as prime contractor is now expanded, indicating increased project scope and funding availability
- Procurement professionals should note the involvement of multiple government entities including Okaloosa County, Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and MARAD, highlighting interagency coordination requirements
- Contractors specializing in marine environmental projects, regulatory compliance, and dockage services may find emerging opportunities linked to artificial reef deployments
- The secured berth in Mobile, Alabama, and project timeline through 2026 provide a defined geographic and temporal focus for related procurement planning

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Transportation, Environment
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 27, 2026

### Government Entities
- Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Maritime Administration (MARAD)

### Vendors
- Coleen Marine (prime contractor)

### Sources
- [Okaloosa Increases Budget for SS United States; Secures Berth - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News](https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/09/okaloosa-increases-budget-for-ss-united-states-secures-berth) - cruiseindustrynews.com