OKALOOSA COUNTY, FL. (THECOUNT) — The historic SS United States, once the fastest ocean liner in the world, is preparing for its final voyage Wednesday as crews carry out a controlled sinking off Florida’s Gulf Coast that will transform the legendary vessel into what officials describe as the world’s largest artificial reef.
The 990-foot ocean liner is scheduled to be sunk approximately 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, in the Gulf of Mexico. Deployment operations were scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Central time, or 2 p.m. Eastern.
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WATCH LIVE: View the historic ship’s final moments as it is prepared to go beneath the Gulf of Mexico in the live video below.
The sinking was moved up one day from its original November 12 schedule because of forecast weather conditions. Okaloosa County officials said the schedule change was intended to avoid unnecessary risks and allow the operation to proceed safely.
The vessel is expected to settle on the Gulf floor in approximately 180 feet of water, with its upper decks roughly 60 feet below the surface. The location is about 25 miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, between Pensacola and Panama City.
The project is intended to create a major new habitat for marine life while establishing a destination for scuba divers, anglers and other visitors. Officials hope the reef will attract species including tuna, marlin and swordfish and provide an economic boost to the region.
Launched in 1952, the SS United States made its mark in maritime history during its maiden voyage, setting a transatlantic speed record that remains unbeaten by an ocean liner. The ship crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times during its career before being retired in 1969.
For decades, the vessel remained docked along Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront. After multiple efforts to find a viable plan to restore or repurpose the ship failed, Okaloosa County acquired it in 2024 and pursued the artificial reef project.
The ship departed Philadelphia in February 2025 and was towed to Mobile, Alabama, where crews spent months preparing it for deployment. Preparation work included environmental remediation and removing components such as the ship’s iconic funnels. Those artifacts are intended to be preserved for a land-based museum in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.
The sinking plan has drawn opposition from preservationists and environmental advocates, some of whom argued that the historic vessel should have been saved and restored rather than deliberately sunk. Supporters of the project have maintained that the ship’s condition made restoration financially impractical and that the reef would give it a new purpose.
The controlled operation will flood the vessel through its seawater intake system rather than use explosives. Openings were made in the ship to allow water to enter and air to escape as it descends.
The SS United States’ final resting place is approximately 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, off the coast of Okaloosa County in Florida’s Panhandle.
Google Maps: SS United States artificial reef deployment coordinates (approximate)
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