SS United States set for scuttling off Destin as the world's largest artificial reef

The former transatlantic liner SS United States is scheduled to be scuttled on 12 November about 22 nautical miles south-west of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where Okaloosa County intends her to become the world's largest artificial reef. Deployment operations are due to begin at 10:00 local time, weather permitting.

The 990-foot ship was scheduled to leave Mobile, Alabama, under tow on 9 November and to reach the deployment site on 10 November. The US Coast Guard set up a temporary 100-yard moving safety zone around the ship and her towing vessels for the transit out of Mobile Bay. A public ceremony on the ship's history is planned for 11 November at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, and the sinking will be livestreamed. Officials expect hundreds of spectator boats near the site and have asked boaters to follow the instructions of safety personnel.

How was the hull prepared?

Since arriving in Mobile in March, the ship has undergone extensive environmental remediation. The county says all 128 fuel and lubricant tanks have been emptied and cleaned, all 12 decks have been remediated and hundreds of historic artefacts removed for preservation. The funnels, the radar mast and other components have been saved for a planned museum ashore.

The SS United States Preservation Foundation has challenged the project in court over the risk of environmental contamination. A federal judge refused its initial emergency request to halt the sinking on 6 November, and the foundation then filed a further request. Okaloosa County says the project remains on schedule. It was funded from tourism revenue and contributions from project partners, and the county expects the wreck to attract divers, recreational anglers and marine life.

Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and delivered in 1952, the liner took the transatlantic speed record on her maiden voyage, crossing in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes at an average of 35.59 knots. The record still stands. She was retired in 1969 and spent nearly three decades laid up in Philadelphia before leaving under tow in February 2025.

This story is part of the Maritime Briefing of 11 November 2026.