SS United States: Okaloosa County Dates Ocean Liner Sinking
The 990-foot vessel will become an artificial reef off Destin on Nov. 12 after a year of preparation in Mobile, Alabama.
By Layla Petrov ·
Okaloosa County will sink the SS United States in the Gulf of Mexico on Nov. 12.
The 990-foot ocean liner spent 17 years carrying passengers across the Atlantic before retiring in 1969. It sat in Philadelphia for nearly 30 years after commercial air travel reduced demand for transoceanic voyages. The county purchased the ship in 2024 and moved it to Mobile, Alabama, where crews spent more than a year preparing it for the seabed.
Workers emptied and inspected all 128 fuel and lubricant tanks on the vessel. They also removed loose paint, wiring, and other materials that could affect the environment. More than 200 samples were collected to test for regulated chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. These industrial chemicals were banned in the United States in 1979 due to their health risks and slow breakdown rates. The county confirmed the environmental cleanup is complete. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers renewed the federal permit for the artificial reef project.
Crews are scheduled to begin operations at 10 a.m. on Nov. 12, weather permitting. The ship is located about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. County officials have not announced a specific time for the vessel to submerge. The ship holds the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing, a record set in July 1952 that still stands more than 70 years later.
Researchers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, and Louisiana State University will study the site after the ship settles. They will document changes in the surrounding environment and monitor the marine life that eventually inhabits the structure. County officials hope the vessel attracts fish and provides a new destination for recreational divers. The project is funded through tourism taxes and contributions from local organizations.
The ship’s two funnels, radar mast, and hundreds of other artifacts have been saved for a planned museum. Visitors will be able to view these items to learn about the vessel's history. A public sendoff ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. The next morning, AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Destin will host a viewing party starting at 9 a.m. A live feed from the deployment site will be shown on an outdoor screen at the restaurant.
County officials expect hundreds of boats in the area during the operation. They are coordinating with safety agencies and asking spectators on the water to follow instructions from safety crews. The SS United States will settle on the Gulf floor, marking the start of its new role as an artificial reef.
