Ocean Liner SS United States to Become Artificial Reef

November 7, 2026, 7:08 am | Read time: 2 minutes

Once the fastest passenger ship to cross the Atlantic, it will soon host fish swimming between its decks and divers on exploration tours. The more than 300-meter-long SS United States is facing perhaps its most unusual chapter: The legendary ocean liner is set to be deliberately sunk in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida. This would create an artificial reef of unprecedented size.

Sinking of the SS United States Planned for November 12

The sinking is scheduled for November 12, weather permitting. The ship is to be taken to the seabed about 22 nautical miles, or 41 kilometers, south of Destin. The coastal city is located about 250 kilometers west of Florida’s capital, Tallahassee.

According to Okaloosa County, the more than 300-meter-long SS United States will become the largest artificial reef in the world after its sinking.

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Transatlantic Record Has Stood Since 1952

The ocean liner became famous right at the start of its service. On its maiden voyage in 1952, the SS United States crossed the Atlantic from New York to Southampton, England, in just three days, ten hours, and 40 minutes.

During this journey, the ship reached an average speed of nearly 66 kilometers per hour, which is approximately 36 knots. The record set then for the fastest transatlantic passage by a passenger ship still stands today.

The SS United States was in service for 17 years and made several stops in Bremerhaven. In 1969, the ocean liner was decommissioned. Several plans to restore and preserve the historic ship permanently failed due to high costs. In 2024, Okaloosa County finally purchased the SS United States.

Artificial Reef to Attract Marine Life and Divers

With the sinking, the ship will now serve a completely new purpose. The wreck is to become a habitat for marine life and create a new diving site. It is expected that divers from around the world will visit the SS United States, thereby boosting tourism in the region. Additionally, a museum dedicated to the ship is planned on land.

Artificial reefs made from decommissioned ships have a tradition in Florida. Dozens of intentionally sunk ships lie off the coast of the U.S. state.

Among them is the former aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. It was sunk south of Pensacola in 2006 and has been on the seabed ever since. The planned location of the SS United States is not far from there.

With material from dpa

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.