Sunken treasure: Historic US ocean liner reborn as artificial reef
MIAMI: A majestic and all-but-indestructible 20th-century ocean liner that once ferried royal leaders, movie stars and even the “Mona Lisa” to the United States was being deliberately sunk on Wednesday to become the world’s largest artificial reef.
MIAMI: A historic 20th-century ocean liner, once a symbol of luxury and travel, is being deliberately sunk to transform into the world's largest artificial reef. The SS United States, a vessel that berthed more than 800 transatlantic trips in the 1950s and 60s, is about to rest on the sandy floor of the Gulf of Mexico, 40km southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
The controlled flooding process, overseen by Florida's Okaloosa County, began with two valves opened, as reported via a live stream. The county purchased the decommissioned ship for US$1 million in 2024, hoping it would enhance local tourism and attract divers and fishermen. The SS United States, longer than the Titanic and the fastest vessel in its class, will become the centerpiece of Okaloosa's underwater park, alongside other historic ships, tugboats, and even a casino boat.
Captain Tim Mullane, leading the repurposing, expressed pride in giving the ship a second life that will benefit marine life, diving, and fishing. The process, which involved cleaning, removing toxins, towing, environmental remediation, safety measures, and sinking, cost around US$13.5 million. The SS United States, a marvel of mid-century American engineering, made its inaugural voyage in 1952 and was a favorite among celebrities, including President John F. Kennedy, King Edward VIII, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Salvador Dali, and even future President Bill Clinton on his way to Oxford.
The ship's most famous passenger was Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, which visited America in 1963. Despite its impressive history, the liner fell out of service within two decades due to the rise of air travel. It remained docked in Philadelphia for 29 years before being bought by Okaloosa County. The county's tourism director, Jennifer Adams Kemp, emphasized the importance of preserving the SS United States, calling it the country's flagship.
The sinking of the SS United States is set to create a new undersea attraction, as its top decks will remain relatively shallow, allowing access for beginner divers. The largest artificial reef currently is an aircraft carrier sunk off Pensacola, Florida, 20 years ago.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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