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

SS United States, which set transatlantic speed record during maiden voyage in 1952, is sunk off coast of Destin

The historic SS United States has reached the end of its journey at sea, sinking Wednesday off the coast of Destin, Florida, where it will begin a new life underwater as an artificial reef.

The nearly 1,000ft American-made vessel, once the fastest ocean liner in the world, was launched in 1952 and made history by setting a transatlantic speed record during its maiden voyage. The ship carried thousands of passengers across the Atlantic over 17 years of operation before being retired in 1969.

On Wednesday, the ship was deployed at approximately 2.40pm ET, with the sinking process beginning shortly before 5pm. The ship had been hollowed out, with openings cut into its hull to let water in and help it sink upright to the ocean floor. Over the next several hours, the ship gradually filled with water before finally sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico around 10pm.

It will rest on the seafloor at a depth of approximately 180ft, the ship’s upper decks sitting about 55ft below the surface. As the world’s largest artificial reef, the site is expected to become a popular diving destination for divers around the world.

For years, the SS United States remained docked in Philadelphia, as various owners attempted to save and restore it. However, the rising costs of maintaining the ageing vessel complicated preservation efforts. In 2021, port authorities raised the daily dockage fee to $1,700, a cost the non-profit SS United States Conservancy could no longer afford.

In 2024, Florida’s Okaloosa county purchased the ship for $1m, with plans to transform it into the world’s largest artificial reef. Officials expect the structure to provide a new habitat for a variety of marine life, including red snapper, grouper, amberjack, mackerel and tuna.

Before its sinking, Susan Gibbs, president and co-founder of the conservancy, said: “She’s being reefed and will remain intact and will become a vibrant and dynamic marine habitat, so that, combined with the land-based museum and visitor experience, will honor her history in a deeply moving way.”

Gibbs, whose grandfather, William Francis Gibbs, designed the ship, also reflected on his personal connection to the vessel, saying: “His relationship with the ship was, I would say, a full-bore obsession. He would joke that he loved the SS United States a thousand times more than my grandmother. He would see the ship off every time she set sail for Europe, and be one of the first to greet her on her return.”