Kategorie: News
From ocean liner to underwater paradise: The creation of a new artificial reef.
The SS United States, once a symbol of speed and luxury, is set to be transformed into an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico. After nearly 30 years in layup in Philadelphia, the ocean liner set out on its final voyage on February 19, 2025. The ship was towed to Mobile, Alabama, where it was decontaminated and prepared for sinking.
| Update October 2026: The sinking is now scheduled for the second week of November 2026. According to Okaloosa County, the date depends on the weather and is subject to change. The information below is from February and September 2025, respectively, and has been corrected where necessary. |
Okaloosa County, Florida, acquired the ship in 2024. According to media reports, the purchase price was approximately one million dollars, and the total project budget was approximately 10 million dollars. The wreck is to be sunk off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach at a depth of approximately 55 meters (180 feet). The upper sections of the ship lie at a significantly shallower depth. The actual diving depths that can be reached and the training required will depend on the current, location, and condition of the wreck and will not be determined until after the ship has been sunk. The SS United States is expected to become a unique diving attraction.
The 302-meter-long ship was launched in 1951 and made its maiden voyage in 1952. On its maiden voyage from New York to Southampton, the SS United States broke all records, crossing the Atlantic in just 3 days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes. This feat earned it the Blue Riband, an award for the fastest Atlantic crossing by a passenger ship. In the event of war, the ship could be converted to transport up to 15,000 soldiers. Prominent guests on board included Princess Grace of Monaco, Salvador Dalí, John F. Kennedy, and Walt Disney.
Between 1953 and 1969, the SS United States docked a total of 167 times at the Columbuskaje, a pier for large passenger ships on the Outer Weser in the northwest of Bremerhaven. Until its final voyage in 1969, the ship carried more than one million passengers across the Atlantic. With the rise of air travel, transatlantic voyages by ship lost their significance, and in 1969, the SS United States was decommissioned.
Artificial reefs create habitats for marine species.
Starting in 1996, the ship lay anchored in the port of Philadelphia and fell into disrepair. Despite various attempts to save the ship, all projects failed due to financial difficulties. The project to transform the SS United States into an artificial reef now offers the opportunity to preserve the ship while simultaneously creating a new ecosystem.
The major challenges in such a project are the high costs of cleaning, transportation, and the logistics required for the sinking. The deadline has been postponed several times; most recently, regulatory approvals were also an issue.
The “transformation” of the SS United States into an artificial reef marks a new chapter for the ship. A museum on land will also showcase the history of the ocean liner.
According to the SS United States Conservancy, items slated for this purpose include the smokestacks, the radar mast, and the bow anchor.
Recap: As of September 2025
The cleanup work had already been underway for several months at that point. Okaloosa County had planned to sink the wreck in the fall of 2025, coinciding with the DEMA Show, an annual trade show for the diving industry. This deadline was not met.
The location of the artificial reef was carefully selected. It lies about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, offers convenient access from the East Pass in Destin, and is just over 30 nautical miles from Pensacola.
On the seafloor at a depth of approximately 55 meters (at the keel), divers will be able to explore various areas—according to earlier reports, from the upper deck at a depth of about 17 meters, across the open promenade deck, to the section where the propellers were formerly located. The final depths will not be determined until after the ship is sunk.