After decades of working to save the historic ocean liner SS United States, the SS United States Conservancy has made the difficult choice to sell the old liner to be sunk to create the world’s largest artificial reef, off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach in the Gulf of Mexico.
According to Okaloosa County, FL documents, the Tourist Development Department is requesting approval for a budget allocation of up to $9 million for the acquisition, remediation, transport, and deployment of the SS United States. This project also includes plans for a land-based museum dedicated to the ship according to getthecoast.com.
The SS United States, a 990-foot vessel launched in 1952, still holds the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner. Currently docked in Philadelphia, the ship faced legal challenges when a federal judge ruled on June 14, 2024, that it must vacate its location within 90 days.