The SS United States, once the fastest ocean liner in the world, was deliberately sunk off the coast of Destin, Florida, on November 11 as part of a project to create the world's largest artificial reef. The vessel took hours to go down, remaining visible until around 9pm before tipping onto its side and vanishing beneath the water.
Final Voyage and Sinking
Organisers had hoped the 990ft ship would disappear beneath the waves in as little as an hour, but much of it remained visible well into the evening. Crews had to fill 128 fuel and lubricant tanks with water to help the vessel settle evenly on the seabed, a process that took considerably longer than planned.
Okaloosa County spokesperson Nick Tomecek admitted it 'took longer than we thought'. 'She's a big ship,' he added. Explosives were ruled out because of federal regulations, so workers prepared the liner to flood through its existing seawater pipes. They also cut huge openings in the decks and removed more than 400 portholes.
Reef Project and Marine Habitat
The sinking was part of a $13.5million project to create what organisers say will be the world's largest artificial reef. The ship's new home is around 25 miles off the coast of Destin, Florida, where it will provide a habitat for marine life and a new attraction for divers.
The ship was intended to settle in around 180ft of water, with its upper decks approximately 60ft beneath the surface. That should make parts of the wreck accessible to recreational divers, while providing a home for fish and other marine creatures. The vessel will join more than 500 artificial reefs in the surrounding waters, including the former aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, which was deliberately sunk off Pensacola in 2006.
Historic Legacy
Built in Virginia by more than 3,000 workers between 1950 and 1951, the SS United States was considered an engineering marvel. On its maiden voyage in 1952, it averaged almost 41mph, beating the transatlantic speed record held by Britain's RMS Queen Mary by 4.5mph, despite encountering winds reaching up to 69mph.
Over the following 17 years, the liner made more than 800 Atlantic crossings, carrying famous passengers including presidents Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and John F Kennedy, as well as Britain's former King Edward VIII and a young Bill Clinton. The rise of commercial air travel eventually caught up with the liner, which was taken out of service in 1969, and from 1996 until recently it sat docked in Philadelphia.
The ship's enormous 65ft funnels have been saved for a planned museum celebrating its history, something welcomed by Susan Gibbs, granddaughter of the liner's designer. 'I'm just so happy that we are able to save parts of her,' she said.
