The iconic ocean liner, the SS United States, famed for being the fastest passenger ship in history, is set to be deliberately sunk this Thursday off the coast of Florida to create the world's largest artificial reef, as reported by EFE.
However, the operation might take place a day earlier. Due to forecasts of strong winds, Okaloosa County authorities are considering initiating the sinking on Wednesday, November 11, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time, instead of the originally planned Thursday.
The ship will be towed to a location approximately 22 nautical miles—or about 41 kilometers—southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach in the Gulf of Mexico, where it will settle on the seabed at a depth of around 55 meters.
Measuring 302 meters in length, the SS United States is more than 30 meters longer than the Titanic and will become the largest artificial shipwreck ever created, surpassing the 270-meter aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, which was sunk off Pensacola in 2006.
The technical plan involves filling 120 tanks with about 6.6 million liters of water and opening holes in the hull to achieve a controlled descent, which should not exceed 45 minutes. The upper decks will rest about 18 meters below the surface, accessible to divers.
A team of around 30 people, led by Captain Tim Mullane, spent months decontaminating the vessel in Mobile, Alabama. They removed over 300 portholes, the four propellers, wiring, glass, plastic, and chemicals from the ship's more than one hundred fuel tanks.
Alex Fogg, head of Natural Resources for Okaloosa County and a marine biologist spearheading the initiative, highlighted the magnitude of the challenge: "The SS United States is, without a doubt, the Everest of projects."
Fogg also noted, in comments to NPR, that the sinking will provide both environmental and economic benefits by attracting a rich marine biodiversity and divers from around the globe. He acknowledged that there was no feasible funding to restore the ship and return it to service.
The project's total budget is $10.1 million, covering the acquisition of the ship, its transport, preparation, sinking, and the construction of a land-based museum. The county purchased it in 2024 for $1 million from the SS United States Conservancy.
The project encountered a final legal hurdle when the SS United States Preservation Foundation filed a lawsuit in early November to halt the sinking. However, federal judge M. Casey Rodgers dismissed it on November 6 due to a lack of affidavits and questions about the standing of the plaintiffs.
Built in the early 1950s, the SS United States operated the transatlantic route between New York and major European ports until 1969, when the rise of aviation rendered it obsolete. On its maiden voyage in 1952, it crossed the Atlantic in three days, ten hours, and 40 minutes—a speed record for passenger ships that remains unbeaten. Among its distinguished passengers were four U.S. presidents and celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly.
The public can watch the sinking live on TheSSUS.com. Coleen O'Malley, co-founder of the company overseeing the operation, summed up the uniqueness of the event: "There is no bigger project, and there never will be again because ships like this are no longer built."
Frequently Asked Questions about the SS United States Project
Why is the SS United States being sunk?
The SS United States is being sunk to create the world's largest artificial reef, providing environmental and economic benefits by attracting marine biodiversity and divers.
Where will the SS United States be located after sinking?
The ship will be located approximately 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach in the Gulf of Mexico, resting at a depth of around 55 meters.
What is the significance of the SS United States' speed record?
The SS United States holds the speed record for crossing the Atlantic in three days, ten hours, and 40 minutes, a record that still stands today for passenger ships.