The Ship That Once Won the Atlantic Has a Sinking Date

The SS United States, the 1952 ocean liner, is nearing the end of its voyage. Okaloosa County, Florida says it will sink the ship in the second week of November 2026, weather permitting, about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

The county calls the project the world’s largest artificial reef, describing it as a one-of-a-kind resource for the environment and tourism. The vessel weighs about 45,000 tons and sat for nearly three decades in Philadelphia before being towed to Mobile, Alabama, where it arrived in early 2025.

The county acquired the ship in 2024 from the SS United States Conservancy. Coleen Marine was hired to remediate and prepare it, and the county says that work finished months ago. Commissioners approved a $1.242 million budget increase for the multimillion-dollar project, and berthing in Mobile is secured through late 2026.

Not everything is settled. The county’s documents showed the ship still awaiting final approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the article does not confirm whether it has been granted. The county says dates may change and more details are expected in the coming weeks.

Sources: Cruise Industry News