Okaloosa County has set the second week of November for the deployment of the SS United States, the historic ocean liner the county plans to turn into the world’s largest artificial reef.
- The 990-foot vessel will be deployed in the Gulf about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, according to an Oct. 9 news release the county. The county noted the deployment is weather-dependent and dates may change.
“The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners is working with our safety and security partners for a safe and efficient deployment,” the release stated. “This is an exciting move forward to create a one-of-a-kind resource for the environment and for our tourism industry.”
From Philadelphia to Mobile
Launched in 1952, the SS United States still holds the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner. The ship was retired from service in 1969 and was docked at Pier 82 on Philadelphia’s Delaware River beginning in 1996.
Okaloosa County agreed to purchase the ship from the SS United States Conservancy in 2024 after a federal judge ordered it to leave its Philadelphia pier. The ship was towed about 1,600 miles from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama, in about 12 days, arriving in early March 2025.
In Mobile, the ship’s funnels and radar mast were removed and are being stored nearby until they are brought to Destin-Fort Walton Beach for a planned land-based museum, to be developed in coordination with the conservancy.
Before deployment, crews will cut holes strategically throughout the ship and fill its cleaned fuel tanks with water so it sinks over the course of a few hours rather than multiple days. A naval architect developed a model of the ship to determine where those holes should be cut. The tow from Mobile will take about three days, and the ship will remain anchored on site for about three days with a 24-hour security perimeter and personnel on board.
The deployment site
The ship will be deployed in an Okaloosa County permitted reef area known as LAARS C, about 22 nautical miles southwest of the Destin East Pass and 32 nautical miles southeast of the Pensacola Pass.
Once on the bottom, the SS United States would surpass the USS Oriskany, a former Navy warship sunk in 2006 about 22.5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass, as the world’s largest artificial reef.
The county said more details on the deployment will be released in the coming weeks.
