Historic ocean liner to ‘live on’ beneath waves as world’s biggest artificial reef
The SS United States will sink off Florida coast to become an artificial reef, ending long-running wrangle over its fate Final preparations were under way on Tuesday to sink the world’s fastest ocean liner in the Gulf of Mexico as an artificial reef, concluding a decades-long wrangle over the fate of the transatlantic icon . A fleet of five tugboats moved the rusting hulk of the SS United States…
The SS United States, once the fastest ocean liner, will become an artificial reef off the coast of Florida, concluding a long-running battle over its fate. The ship, stripped of its two giant funnels and mast, will sink in a precision operation on Wednesday afternoon. The vessel, which held the title for the fastest transatlantic crossing by a passenger liner, was withdrawn from service in 1969 due to declining passenger numbers and the rise of transatlantic air travel.
Various proposals to turn it into a floating hotel, museum, or hospitality venue failed to gain enough funding or momentum. The ship was eventually purchased by Florida's Okaloosa county for $1 million in 2024 and will be scuttled stripped of its internal fixtures and toxic materials. Divers will be able to visit the 990ft ship from this weekend.
The SS United States Preservation Society, which has collected an extensive collection of artifacts and materials from the ship, plans to build a shore-based museum featuring the funnels and items from the ship, as well as a pier for diving trips. The conservancy's president, Susan Gibbs, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to honor the ship's legacy through the museum and the reef, ensuring its story will live on.
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