The SS United States, America’s most famous ocean liner, is set to be sunk off the coast of Destin, Florida, to become the world’s largest artificial reef. The ship, which once proudly sailed the Atlantic, now sits in the Mobile River, its red, white, and blue paint faded and marred by rust.
At nearly 1,000 feet long, the SS United States holds a record for the fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner, made on its maiden voyage in 1952. The ship hosted many famous passengers, including Marilyn Monroe, Salvador Dalí, and former presidents like Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower.
After only 17 years of passenger travel, the ship was taken out of service in 1969 due to rising costs and the advent of affordable air travel. Since then, it has bounced from buyer to buyer, searching for a new purpose. Now, thanks to the efforts of Alex Fogg, the natural resources chief for Destin-Fort Walton Beach tourism, the ship will find a new life as an artificial reef.
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The Ship’s New Home
Fogg led a tour of the ship’s labyrinthine corridors and expansive decks, one of the last opportunities to see the ship above water. The tour included a visit to the first-class cabins, the grand staircase, and the engine room. Fogg explained that the ship’s sinking will provide a habitat for dozens of species of fish and other marine life, and will become a major destination for recreational divers and fishers.
The waters off Destin-Fort Walton Beach lack an abundance of reef and other habitat that encourage a greater diversity and population of marine species. But artificial reefs can provide a substitute for these natural features. Fogg’s team has already installed over 600 artificial reefs in the area since 2017, boosting diving and fishing opportunities. The SS United States will be the crown jewel of this program, providing a unique and iconic destination for visitors.
Fogg first learned about the ship’s availability through a contractor and was immediately drawn to its potential as an artificial reef. However, the process of acquiring the ship and preparing it for sinking was complex and involved negotiations with the Coast Guard and the SS United States Conservancy, the nonprofit organization that previously owned the ship.
Warren Jones, a board member of the conservancy, had a personal connection to the ship, having sailed on it as a child. He remembered the experience fondly, but acknowledged that the conservancy’s options for the ship’s future were limited. Fogg’s proposal to sink the ship as an artificial reef was seen as a better alternative than scrapping or allowing it to deteriorate in a pier.
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The ship began an extensive environmental remediation process after arriving in Mobile in March 2025. The sinking will be carried out by opening valves connected to huge boiler pipes, allowing water to flood in and the ship to be fully submerged within 45 minutes.
Marine life will likely arrive within hours of the ship sinking, Fogg says, but it will probably take at least a year for the ecosystem to fully blossom. The ship’s sinking is scheduled for November 12, and it will be a major event for the area, attracting divers, fishers, and marine life enthusiasts.
Jones takes comfort in the fact that the SS United States will once again be a source of wonder and delight for the public. He remembers his time on board as a “real feeling of joy,” and is glad that the ship will continue to inspire people in its new role as an artificial reef. Visitor center exhibits and a land-based museum will also be established to keep the ship’s legacy alive.