SS United States Ocean Liner Is Set To Become The World’s Largest Artificial Reef Off Florida

The SS United States ocean liner will become the world’s largest artificial reef. Okaloosa County announced the decision to sink the vessel in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida, 22 nautical miles from Destin, in mid-November 2026.

The vessel will be placed at a depth of 55 metres, and its upper decks will sit 17 to 18 metres below the surface, so that technical and recreational divers can reach it.

Popularly called the ‘Big-U’ and famous for more things than one, the record-breaking passenger vessel welcomed 4 U.S. presidents, namely Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F.Kennedy, and Bill Clinton, and personalities like Marilyn Monroe, Coco Chanel, Grace Kelly, John Wayne, Marlon Brando, Salvador Dali, and Walt Disney on a luxurious travel experience across the Atlantic.

The 990 ft ship was known for speed. On her inaugural journey in 1952, it crossed the Atlantic Ocean in just 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes, beating the previous record holder, the Queen Mary, by 10 hours and winning the Blue Line Prize for the achievement.

Her illustrious career came to an end in 1969 with the increasing popularity of air travel. Additionally, many lobbied for restoring the vessel; however, the plans were abandoned due to the high maintenance costs.

Okaloosa County purchased it for a million dollars after all options had been exhausted and decided to make it an artificial reef. According to officials, the ship’shistory, size, and design were the reasons she was chosen for the same.

Steel wreckages provide algae, fish, corals, and other marine life with a solid surface to settle on in an otherwise sandy environment. It could attract reef species like grouper, red snapper, amberjack, mackerel, and tuna.

To support the initiative, Coastal Conservation Association Florida made its biggest donation in four decades, which is $500,000.

The County officials called it an exciting move that would create a unique resource for the environment and boost local tourism by attracting divers and tourists from across the world to the wreck site, thus supporting local dive shops, businesses, and hotels, pouring millions into the regional economy every year.

Before the planned sinking, the ship’s 128 fuel and lubricant tanks will be emptied and cleared thoroughly. All paint and other coatings will also be removed, along with the funnels, propellers, radar masts and portholes. These pieces will go to a museum for display. Openings have been made in several places to let divers and marine life enter the ship.

Controlled flooding, not explosives, will be used to drown the ship in its designated place in an upright position. After this, researchers from several U.S. institutions will monitor the marine growth and other effects for many years.

Environmental Groups have voiced concerns that its zinc chromate primer could contaminate the Gulf, though Okaloosa County officials said that the project is progressing as per EPA Rules.

A lawsuit was also filed to stop USS United States from ending up underwater due to contamination concerns; however, these were dismissed last year by the court.

William Francis Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy, said that the ship has been a source of inspiration for millions and is a symbol of American pride and excellence.

The County oversees the management of over 500 artificial reefs in the region, and several small shipwrecks as well. The USS United States will be placed just 12 nautical miles from the carrier USS Orikany, which was sunk in 2006 off Pensacola, becoming the largest ship sunk to become a reef.