Watch: Moment historic ship sinks off the coast of Florida
The SS United States, an historic ocean liner which has been out of commission for decades, will become the world's largest artificial underwater reef.
The historic SS United States, an American-made ocean liner, sank off the coast of Destin, Florida, on Wednesday. The vessel, which was nearly 1,000 feet long, was deployed at approximately 2:40 p.m. ET and began the sinking process shortly before 5 p.m. After being hollowed out with openings in the hull to ensure it sank upright, the ship reached the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico around 10 p.m. It will rest at a depth of approximately 180 feet, with its upper decks sitting about 55 feet below the surface.
The ship set a transatlantic speed record during its maiden voyage in 1952 and operated for 17 years before being retired in 1969. Before its deployment, the vessel had remained docked in Philadelphia for years while various owners sought to save and restore it.
According to BBC News, the SS United States will become the world's largest artificial underwater reef. The Guardian US notes that the site is expected to become a popular destination for divers around the world.
Brief written by urgent.news from BBC News, The Guardian US — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
