Historic SS United States to be sunk off Florida as artificial reef

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 21:32 · Archive

The SS United States, once the world's fastest ocean liner, will be sunk off Florida on Wednesday to become the world's largest artificial reef.

The SS United States, an ocean liner longer than the Titanic and once the fastest vessel on the seas, will be sunk off the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday to form the world's largest artificial reef. The $13.5 million project is intended to draw divers and fishing enthusiasts to the area whilst creating habitat for tuna, marlin and swordfish. The ship will settle on the seabed about 25 miles southwest of Destin, Florida, in roughly 180 feet of water, with its top deck about 60 feet below the surface, shallow enough for recreational divers to visit.

The SS United States was built in Virginia between 1950 and 1951 and made its maiden voyage in 1952. During its operational life, the ship carried notable passengers including President John F. Kennedy, former King Edward VIII, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and comedian Jackie Gleason. A young Bill Clinton travelled on the ship to Oxford University in 1968 before it was decommissioned a year later. The vessel sat docked in Philadelphia from 1996 until February 2025.

The sinking was moved forward by a day because of concerns about inclement weather. Federal environmental and explosives rules prevent officials from using explosives to scuttle the ship, so instead workers prepared the vessel by removing the pipes that drew seawater into cooling tanks, cutting 10-foot-by-10-foot holes in the decks and removing more than 400 portholes. The 65-foot smokestacks have been removed and are planned to anchor a new museum celebrating the ship.

The reef project ends a long-running dispute over the ship's fate and spares what was a technological marvel of its era from being turned into scrap metal. The artificial reef will sit near about 500 other reefs in the area. A maritime archaeologist told Fox News she has mixed feelings about the transformation, saying: 'As a scuba diver, I'm thrilled at the prospect of a new underwater site to visit and photograph, as well as the benefits it could potentially reap for the marine environment.'

How it is being reported

• SS United States to become world's largest artificial reefThe 1,000-foot long SS United States is being sent to the bottom of the ocean in a controlled, explosive-free sinking that is taking place about 20 nautical miles off the Gulf Coast of Florida.CBS News · 12 Nov, 00:04
• SS United States to be sunk to become the world’s largest artificial reef - watch liveThe SS United States will sink off the coast of Destin, Florida to become an artificial reef, ending long-running wrangle over its fate Historic ocean liner to ‘live on’ beneath waves as world’s biggest artificial reef Continue reading...The Guardian · 11 Nov, 19:22
• Historic US ship that once ruled the Atlantic faces extraordinary fate near FloridaOnce the fastest Atlantic ocean liner, the SS United States is set to become the world's largest artificial reef in a $13.5 million project off the coast of Florida.Fox News · 11 Nov, 15:36
• The sinking of the SS United States, the world's fastest ocean linerThe SS United States shattered records as the world's fastest ocean liner. Now, she'll break a new record, sinking off the coast of Florida to become the world's largest artificial reef. CBS News' Jared Ochacher shares the story of this historic American ship, from her glory days as a midcentury marvel to efforts to save her — and her future as an ecotourism site.CBS News · 11 Nov, 14:24
• Famed ocean liner bigger than Titanic to be sent to watery grave in FloridaAn ocean liner that once was the fastest on the seas is headed to its final home on the floor of the Gulf Mexico as the world’s largest artificial reefIndependent World · 11 Nov, 11:00

In this story: SS United States · Florida · Destin · Philadelphia · President John F. Kennedy · Grace Kelly · Elizabeth Taylor

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