SS United States To Become World's Largest Artificial Reef Off Florida In 2026 After Departing Philadelphia

CBS Philadelphia

November 19, 2025

A historic ocean liner will become the world's largest artificial reef after it's sunk off Florida's Gulf Coast early next year.

Okaloosa County officials announced Tuesday that they expect to sink the SS United States, which sailed out of South Philadelphia in February, in early 2026, about 22 nautical miles (41 kilometers) southwest of Destin and 32 nautical miles (59 kilometers) southeast of Pensacola.

The nearly 1,000-foot (305-meter) vessel, which shattered the trans-Atlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, has spent most of this year at the Port of Mobile in Alabama, being scoured to remove chemicals, wiring, plastic and glass.

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