The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
BILL: SB 804
INTRODUCER: Senator Collins
SUBJECT: Designation of the Official State Flagship
DATE: March 31, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. White McVaney GO Favorable
2. MS
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 804 redesignates the state flagship. Instead of the Schooner Western Union, the current state
flagship, located in Key West, the bill designates the S.S. American Victory, located in Tampa.
The bill is not expected to impact state or local government revenues and expenditures.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
Florida State Symbols
Chapter 15, F.S. designates official state symbols. State symbols represent the state’s heritage
and natural treasures. To date there are over 25 designations, including numerous animals and
plants; an anthem, song, and motto; several cultural events; and a flagship—the Schooner
Western Union.
Schooner Western Union
In 2012, the Florida Legislature designated the Schooner Western Union as the state’s official
flagship.
1
When designated as the official state flagship, the Schooner Western Union was one of
the oldest working wooden schooners in the United States.
The Schooner Western Union is a 130-foot historic sailing vessel of the tall ship class.
Construction of the ship began in Grand Cayman, but it was completed in Key West and first
launched on April 7, 1939. The Schooner is made of yellow pine and mahogany. For 35 years the
Schooner served as a cable vessel for the Western Union Telegraph Company, repairing
1
Chapter 2012-158, Laws of Fla.
REVISED: BILL: SB 804 Page 2
underwater cables throughout the Keys, Cuba, and the Caribbean. Since retiring, the Schooner
was used as a charter boat in various events.
2
After 1973, the Schooner was bought, sold, and finally donated to a not-for-profit called the
Schooner Western Union Preservation Society, Inc. (SWUPS). Their mission was “to restore and
maintain the historic vessel to benefit the local community and for education and outreach
programs.” SWUPS has faced numerous challenges, however. In 2011, the 130-foot schooner
underwent a million-dollar restoration project; the vessel’s ability to sail, however, was short-
lived and the ship soon fell into disrepair.
3
SWUPS is facing an estimated $5 million restoration
costs as the historic vessel currently is dry-docked in a boatyard, “being eaten away by the
elements.” The riggings and masts have been removed and many of the planks on the side of the
vessel are gone as well.
4
The ship remains the official flagship of Key West and it is on the National Register of Historic
Places.
5
S.S. American Victory
The S.S. American Victory is a merchant marine vessel used to deliver cargo and troops around
the world in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
6
After serving three wars, the
ship went through a $2.5 million restoration in June 1985. In October of 1996, Captain John C.
Timmel learned the S.S. American Victory was earmarked for scrap if not acquired for memorial
purposes and saved the ship. The ship now sits by the Florida Aquarium in Tamp, Florida; where
it has been for over 20 years.
7
Out of the 534 Victory ships made between 1944 and 1946, the
S.S. America Victory is one of only three left, with the other two on the West Coast of the
United States.
8
The S.S. American Victory is on the National Register of Historic Places and
now cared for by the American Victory Ship and Museum, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
9
2
Analysis of HB 395 (2012), Comm. on State Affairs, The Florida House of Representatives, available at
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2012/395/Analyses/h0395c.SAC.PDF.
3
Brad Bertelli, KeysWeekly, Keys History: Historic Schooner Dry Docked on Stock Island Has Seen Better Days (May 3,
2024), https://keysweekly.com/42/keys-history-historic-schooner-dry-docked-on-stock-island-has-seen-better-days/ (last
visited Mar. 3, 2025).
4
Timoth O’Hara, Keysnews.com, Faded Glory: Schooner Western Union is far from its glory days (Feb. 3, 2021),
https://www.keysnews.com/news/local/schooner-western-union-is-far-from-its-glory-days/article_b447e974-64b8-11eb-
b286-8ff5a3dd85c6.html (last visited Mar. 3, 2025).
5
Id.; National Register of Historic Places, National Parks Service, National Register Database and Research,
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm (last visited Mar. 3, 2025).
6
Charles M. Fuss Jr., United States Naval Institute, SS American Victory, Tampa, Florida, 15 NAVAL HISTORY NO. 3 (June
2001), available at https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2001/june/ss-american-victory-tampa-florida.
7
Mission and History, American Victory Ship and Museum, https://www.americanvictory.org/about/mission-and-history/
(last visited Mar. 3, 2025).
8
FOX 13 News Tampa Bay, At 76 years of age, the SS American Victory lives on in Tampa (Aug. 31, 2001),
https://www.fox13news.com/news/at-76-years-of-age-the-ss-american-ship-lives-on-in-tampa (last visited Mar. 3, 2025);
Charles M. Fuss Jr., supra note 7
9
National Register of Historic Places, National Parks Service, National Register Database and Research,
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/database-research.htm (last visited Mar. 3, 2025); Home,
https://www.americanvictory.org/ (last visited Mar. 3, 2025). BILL: SB 804 Page 3
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill’s preamble recognizes the historical significance of the S.S. American Victory,
highlighting the ship’s service in American war efforts during World War II, the Korean War,
and Vietnam War; as well as the ship’s contributions to the Tampa and state-wide community
and its support of community, charitable, and educational groups and causes.
Section 1 amends s. 15.0465, F.S., to designate the S.S. American Victory, instead of the
schooner Western Union, as the official state flagship.
Section 2 provides that the bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
Not applicable. The bill does not require counties or municipalities to take an action
requiring the expenditure of funds, reduce the authority that counties or municipalities
have to raise revenue in the aggregate, nor reduce the percentage of state tax shared with
counties or municipalities.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None identified.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None identified.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None identified.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None identified.
B. Private Sector Impact:
Obtaining the status of state flagship could increase the marketability of S.S. American
Victory Museum, thereby generating additional revenue that may be used for the purpose
of maintaining the vessel.
BILL: SB 804 Page 4
It appears that the Schooner Western Union is not currently open to the public and would
require significant investment to be restored to the condition required for public tours or
seafaring.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None identified.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None identified.
VII. Related Issues:
None identified.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 15.0465 of the Florida Statutes
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.