Historic US ocean liner sinks near Florida to become world’s largest artificial reef

The historic SS United States, once the world's fastest ocean liner, has met its final voyage off the coast of Destin, Florida. Sinking on Wednesday evening, the nearly 1,000-foot vessel will now serve a new purpose as an artificial reef. Launched in 1952, the ship set a transatlantic speed record during its maiden voyage and transported thousands of passengers across the Atlantic for 17 years before being retired in 1969.

The sinking process began shortly before 5pm ET, with the ship gradually filling with water and ultimately resting at a depth of around 180 feet, with its upper decks about 55 feet below the surface. As the world's largest artificial reef, the site is anticipated to attract divers globally. The SS United States had been docked in Philadelphia for years, as various owners tried to save and restore it, but the escalating costs of maintenance proved prohibitive.

In 2021, daily dockage fees soared to $1,700, a price the SS United States Conservancy could not absorb. Recently, Florida’s Okaloosa County acquired the ship for $1 million, intending to convert it into the world's largest artificial reef. The structure is expected to offer a diverse habitat for marine life, including red snapper, grouper, amberjack, mackerel, and tuna.

Before its sinking, Susan Gibbs, president and co-founder of the conservancy, expressed her personal connection to the ship, noting her grandfather, William Francis Gibbs, who designed it, had an "obsession" with the vessel.