Kategorie: News
Former passenger steamer to become giant artificial wreck
| Update October 2026: The spring 2026 date mentioned in November 2025 was also not met. The sinking is now scheduled for the second week of November 2026. According to Okaloosa County, the date depends on the weather and is still subject to change. The article below reflects the status as of November 19, 2025, and has been corrected where necessary. |
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 embarked on its final voyage in February 2025. The ship was towed to Mobile, Alabama, where it was decontaminated and prepared for sinking.
Originally, the sinking was planned for DEMA 2025 to allow as many international journalists and professionals from the diving industry as possible to attend the event.
As of November 2025: The final gutting and cleaning of the SS United States has been delayed; the ship’s sinking has been rescheduled from November 2025 to spring 2026.
Further information:
SS United States dives: From record-breaking ship to artificial reef!
History of the SS United States
The SS United States, also known as “The Big U,” is a unique passenger steamship. With a width of 30.7 meters and a length of 302 meters, it is about 33 meters longer than the Titanic and the largest ocean liner ever built in the United States.
The ship was also the fastest, although its top speed was kept secret for many years. Even today, there are still some discrepancies, but it seems to be generally accepted that its speed was around 38 knots, which is equivalent to 70 kilometers per hour (there are alternative reports of over 44 knots, or approximately 80 kilometers per hour).
Why was the ship built for such high speeds? The SS United States was built in 1952 for $79.4 million for United States Lines, with the U.S. government subsidizing $50 million of the construction costs; however, there was a special condition attached to the subsidy: The SS United States was to be used as a troop transport ship with a capacity of 15,000 soldiers in the event of war. For this reason, its top speed was a closely guarded secret.
In the meantime, however, it was intended to serve as the epitome of American engineering and an oasis of comfort—America’s answer to competing companies such as the British Cunard Line or the French Line. According to the owners [verify source of list], the numerous prominent passengers included Marlon Brando, Coco Chanel, Sean Connery, Gary Cooper, Walter Cronkite, Salvador Dalí, Walt Disney, Duke Ellington, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, Charlton Heston, Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
By all accounts, the SS United States was modern and impressive without being ostentatious. The interior design was a blend of Native American and aquatic motifs that paid homage to the elements with modernist embellishments and a predominant use of shades of green and blue.