Giant cruise liner SS United States is sunk to create world’s biggest artificial reef

The SS United States, once the fastest ocean liner on transatlantic routes and home to notable passengers like President John F. Kennedy, is set to become an artificial reef off Florida’s coast in a $13.5 million project. After decades of deterioration at a Philadelphia dock, the ship will be sunk approximately 25 miles southwest of Destin, Florida, in about 180 feet of water. The transformation aims to benefit…

The SS United States, once a celebrated symbol of American maritime engineering, is set to become an artificial reef off Florida's coast on November 11, 2025, a day earlier than initially planned due to favorable weather conditions. The ship, which holds the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner and was designated as a historic landmark in 1999, will be deployed approximately 22 nautical…

The SS United States, once the world’s fastest ocean liner, was deliberately sunk off the coast of Destin, Florida on November 11 to become an artificial reef. Measuring nearly 305 meters long, the ship underwent a year-long process to remove hazardous materials and cut holes for controlled sinking. Organizers expect it to rest upright at a depth of 55 meters, with its upper deck about 15 meters below water…

The historic SS United States, once America's fastest ocean liner built in 1950-1951, began sinking off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. The ship, which had been docked in Philadelphia for nearly three decades, was deliberately flooded with seawater to become the largest artificial reef at a depth of about 60 feet. Officials carved holes in the deck and removed over 400 portholes to…

The SS United States, once the largest American-built passenger ship and the world’s fastest, has been deliberately sunk off the coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico to become the world’s largest artificial reef. In a live stream broadcast, viewers watched as the 302-meter-long vessel was towed out to sea by numerous tugboats and recreational vessels for its final voyage, with safety crews present to ensure a…

The historic SS United States, known for being the fastest ocean liner during its service, was deliberately sunk off the coast of Florida on November 9, 2026, as part of a $13.5 million project to create an artificial reef. The process took longer than expected, with the ship remaining visible in the water until around 9 p.m., when it finally sank entirely. This controlled sinking aims to attract divers and fishing…

On November 11, the SS United States, a former record-breaking ocean liner, was deliberately sunk in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida's coast as part of a $13.5 million project to create an artificial reef. The process took several hours longer than anticipated; crews filled 128 tanks with water to ensure even sinking, and by 9 pm, the ship had tilted and fully submerged.