The SS United States, a retired American ocean liner, that was built during 1950 and 1951 for United States Lines, is towed out to sea on the Delaware River, on her way to Alabama where she is intended to be sunk to create an artificial reef, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., February 19, 2025. REUTERS/Matthew Hatcher
The historic SS United States, once the fastest ocean liner in the world, is scheduled to leave Mobile, Alabama, on Monday for its final voyage before being intentionally sunk off Florida’s Gulf Coast later this week.
The 990-foot vessel is scheduled to become the world’s largest artificial reef when it is scuttled on Thursday, about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, according to Okaloosa County officials. Deployment operations are expected to begin at 10 a.m. local time, weather permitting.
The U.S. Coast Guard has established a temporary 100-yard moving safety zone around the vessel and its towing vessels for the transit out of Mobile Bay. The tow is expected to reach the offshore deployment site Tuesday, ahead of Thursday’s planned sinking.
The sinking will mark the end of a remarkable maritime career for the ship known as America’s Flagship. Built by Newport News Shipbuilding and delivered in 1952, the SS United States captured the transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage, crossing the Atlantic in just three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes at an average speed of 35.59 knots. The record still stands.
The vessel was retired from service in 1969 and spent nearly three decades laid up in Philadelphia before departing under tow in February 2025.
Since arriving in Mobile last March, the ship has undergone extensive environmental remediation in preparation for its new role as an artificial reef.
According to county officials, all 128 fuel and lubricant tanks have been emptied and cleaned, all 12 decks have undergone remediation, and hundreds of historic artifacts have been removed for preservation. The vessel’s iconic funnels, radar mast and other components have also been saved for a planned land-based museum.
The project has faced a last-minute legal challenge from the SS United States Preservation Foundation, which raised concerns about potential environmental contamination. A federal judge denied an initial emergency request to halt the sinking on Friday, although the group subsequently filed another request. Okaloosa County has said the project remains on schedule.
The county expects the wreck to attract divers, recreational fishermen and marine life, while providing a major new tourism attraction along Florida’s Emerald Coast.
A public ceremony celebrating the ship’s history is scheduled for Wednesday at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center.
For Thursday’s sinking, a live viewing party will begin at 9 a.m. at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Destin. The deployment will also be livestreamed, with a viewing link to be posted at the official SS United States project website.
Officials are preparing for potentially hundreds of spectator vessels near the deployment area and are urging boaters to follow instructions from safety personnel.
The artificial reef project was funded through tourism revenues and contributions from project partners.
For the SS United States, the planned sinking will close one chapter of American maritime history while beginning another beneath the Gulf.
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