SS United States sunk off Florida coast to create artificial reef
The historic ocean liner, which was once the fastest ship in the world, will now serve as a home for marine life.
The SS United States was sunk on Wednesday off the coast of Destin, Florida, to become the world's largest artificial ocean reef, according to BBC News. The vessel, which is longer than the Titanic, was moved from Alabama to the Gulf on Monday for the precision operation, which was conducted without explosives.
Okaloosa County purchased the ship in October 2024 for $10.1 million. Before its sinking, the liner underwent environmental remediation and cleaning in Mobile, Alabama. The ship is expected to rest at a depth of approximately 180 feet, with top decks sitting at about 60 feet.
The SS United States set a transatlantic speed record during its 1952 maiden voyage and operated until 1969. The ship carried various figures, including former US presidents Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy, as well as a young Bill Clinton.
The SS United States Conservancy group unsuccessfully attempted to preserve the liner as a museum. Conservancy President Susan Gibbs, whose grandfather helped design the liner, told CBS News that the ship has always been an unabashedly American symbol.
A land-based museum detailing the history of the ship is also planned. Recreational divers are expected to be able to visit the wreck beginning at dawn on Thursday, Nov. 12, if the deployment proceeds as planned.