SS United States Set to Become World's Largest Artificial Reef Off Florida

Deployment of the SS United States is under way off Florida on Wednesday as part of a project to turn the historic ocean liner into the world's largest artificial reef.

Crews began pumping water into the ship this afternoon, according to officials quoted in local live coverage. The deployment site is about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Completion of the controlled sinking has not yet been confirmed.

The sinking was moved forward from Thursday because of a forecast for heavy winds and unsafe offshore conditions. The previously planned public send-off ceremony was canceled. A livestream is being offered through the project's official website, TheSSUS.com.

At 990 feet long, the SS United States is expected to surpass the USS Oriskany as the world's largest artificial reef. The liner set a transatlantic speed record in 1952 and later spent decades idle in Philadelphia while attempts to restore it failed.

Okaloosa County purchased the ship in 2024. Before its final deployment, crews carried out remediation and assessments in Mobile, Alabama, including work to remove materials that could harm the marine environment.

The project is intended to create habitat for marine life and a new destination for recreational divers. An opening date for public diving has not been confirmed, and prospective visitors should wait for official access and safety announcements.

A separate land-based museum planned for the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area is expected to preserve artifacts and tell the story of the liner's engineering and service.