# SS United States is sunk off Florida to create a vast artificial reef

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/historic-ship-originally-slated-to-become-hotel-or-casino-deliberately-sunk-of-florida-coast/
- Published: 2026-11-12T03:27:20+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T03:33:15+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16284703/Historic-ship-sunk-Florida-coast.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- The SS United States is fully flooded and sinking off Florida.
- It is being turned into a large artificial reef for divers.
- The county bought the historic liner for $10 million in 2024.

## Summary

The SS United States is now fully flooded and sinking off Florida’s Gulf Coast, a new stage in plans to turn the retired liner into a vast artificial reef. The project ends efforts to preserve the ship as a floating landmark and is intended to create a site for diving tours.

Built in 1950 and 1951, the liner first sailed in 1952 and once held the record as the fastest ocean liner. Okaloosa County bought it for $10 million in 2024; crews cut openings and removed more than 400 portholes to let water in, with the ship due to settle about 60 feet below the surface. Its smokestacks were removed for a planned nearby museum, and officials said explosives could not be used under federal rules.

## Coverage

- [Daily Mail: SS United States is sunk off Florida to create a vast artificial reef](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16284703/Historic-ship-sunk-Florida-coast.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [New York Times: Recalling the S.S. United States as It Becomes a Florida Reef](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/11/11/insider/ss-united-states-destin-florida-memories.html)
- [The Guardian: Historic US ocean liner sinks near Florida to become world’s largest artificial reef](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/11/ss-united-states-sinks-florida-reef)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.