The SS United States, formerly recognized as the world’s fastest ocean liner, has been intentionally scuttled off the coast of Destin, Florida. On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, the nearly 1,000-foot vessel was submerged to establish the world’s largest artificial reef. Officials prepared the ship by cutting openings in its hull, allowing it to settle upright on the seafloor at a depth of approximately 180 feet. The site is intended to foster marine life, including snapper and grouper, while serving as a destination for international divers.
Launched in 1952, the ship carried numerous historical figures, including former US Presidents Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy, before retiring in 1969. Following decades of maintenance challenges and failed preservation efforts in Philadelphia, Okaloosa County purchased the vessel in 2024. While the sinking concludes efforts to maintain the ship as a floating museum, local officials plan to open a land-based facility to commemorate its history.
1 article
The historic SS United States, once the world's fastest ocean liner, has been sunk off the Florida coast to become the world's largest artificial reef.
Read the full report
