The SS United States, once celebrated as America’s fastest ocean liner, has begun sinking off Florida’s Gulf Coast near Destin-Fort Walton Beach.
The retired passenger liner, built between 1950 and 1951, began its transformation into what officials describe as the world’s largest artificial reef on Wednesday morning.
Crews pumped seawater into the vessel to begin the carefully planned sinking of the historic ship, CBS News reported.
Workers had spent several weeks cutting openings into the ship’s deck to prepare it for the descent, the outlet said.
More than 400 portholes were removed, allowing water to flow inside before the liner settles roughly 60 feet beneath the surface.
After spending nearly 30 years docked on Philadelphia’s Delaware River, the SS United States is expected to become a destination for scuba divers, officials said.
The vessel’s distinctive red, white and blue smokestacks were removed ahead of plans to display them at a nearby museum, authorities added.
By 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, the ship had been completely flooded and was continuing to sink, ABC 7 reported.
The SS United States, a historic American supership, began sinking near Destin-Fort Walton Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday
America’s fastest ocean liner is being transformed into Florida’s largest artificial reef
The liner spent nearly three decades docked on Philadelphia’s Delaware River and will soon welcome divers
Officials said the ship had to be sunk without explosives because federal environmental and explosives regulations prohibited their use.
Nick Tomecek, a spokesperson for Okaloosa County, said the restrictions ruled out using explosives to send the vessel to the seafloor.
The county bought the ship for $10 million in 2024 as part of its artificial reef program, the outlet reported.
The decision followed years of discussion about alternative uses for the historic vessel, including proposals to convert it into a hotel or casino.
In 2015, Brooklyn businessman John Quadrozzi Jr. expressed interest in buying the ship and transforming it into a mixed-use destination featuring offices, a gym, swimming pool, restaurants, a theater, a maritime school and a museum, Brooklyn Paper reported at the time.
Six years later, a real estate company approached several city governments with a plan for a hotel and museum complex, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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But in 2024, the SS United States Conservancy told Newsweek that, after a decade of efforts, local leaders “did not embrace the project.”
With “no viable options” remaining for restoring the vessel, the Conservancy said it reached an agreement with Florida officials to move the ship south and repurpose it as an artificial reef.
The Board of County Commissioners in Destin, Florida, announced in October 2026 that the ship had been fully remediated, while the Army Corps of Engineers scheduled its final deployment.
The NY Coalition also sought to prevent the SS United States from being sunk, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
“Those who cherish the SS United States and continue to fight for her future as a preserved, floating landmark and symbol of American excellence, innovation and pride,” the coalition said.
“SHAME on anyone who conspired in silence against the will of We the People.”
Tugboats transport the iconic SS United States south on March 3, 2025
Several proposals were considered before officials decided to sink the ship, including a 2020 plan for a hotel and museum complex
The SS United States, which first entered service in 1952, was the fastest ship to cross the ocean
Designed by American naval architect William Francis Gibbs, the ship was famously described by him as: “You can’t set her on fire, you can’t sink her, and you can’t catch her.”
The historic liner made its maiden voyage on July 3, 1952, just ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
Harry Manning, who had served as Amelia Earhart’s co-pilot, commanded the ship as it set a new speed record.
During its career from 1952 to 1969, the vessel carried immigrants and high-profile passengers, including Walt Disney and John F. Kennedy.
The ship was soon known as “America’s Flagship” and became a symbol of technological achievement during the 1950s.
As commercial air travel became more widely available in the 1960s, the liner’s finances deteriorated. It was retired from service in 1969.
The vessel was later towed to Philadelphia, where it remained until February 2025.
The SS United States had initially been scheduled to sink on November 12, but officials moved the operation forward by one day because of the possibility of bad weather.
