SS United States, an ocean liner longer than the Titanic, has been sunk off Florida to become an artificial reef

The American ocean liner SS United States - one of the most famous transatlantic vessels of the 1950s and 1960s - has been sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida, to be transformed into an artificial reef for divers and fishing enthusiasts. The ship, which is longer than the Titanic and completed over 800 transatlantic crossings, is set to become a new tourist attraction in the region, according to AFP. The vessel's hull, measuring over 300 meters, gradually filled with water throughout the afternoon until the liner sank approximately 40 kilometers from the city of Destin, on Florida's northwest coast.

• A $13.5 million project

Converting the ship into an artificial reef required a complex technical operation, carried out without the use of explosives. For the controlled sinking, valves in the cooling system were opened, more than 400 portholes were removed, and openings were cut into the ship's decks. The project, estimated at approximately $13.5 million, aims to create a habitat for marine life while attracting tourists interested in diving and fishing. The organizers describe it as the largest artificial reef in the world. The ship was sunk at a depth of approximately 55 meters, with the upper deck positioned about 18 meters below the water's surface. Prior to the operation, the tall smokestacks were removed. Nick Tomecek, a spokesperson for Okaloosa County, told The Washington Post that local authorities aim to transform the area into one of the world's premier diving destinations.

• A symbol of transatlantic travel

The SS United States completed its first transatlantic crossing in 1952 and its last in 1969. During its heyday, the ocean liner carried numerous notable figures, including U.S. President John F. Kennedy, actress Marilyn Monroe, artist Salvador Dalí, and Walt Disney. Bill Clinton also traveled aboard the ship-before becoming President of the United States-while en route to pursue his studies at the University of Oxford.

Measuring over 300 meters in length, the SS United States was approximately 30 meters longer than the Titanic. The vessel was designed for rapid Atlantic crossings and became a symbol of the capabilities of the American shipbuilding industry in the post-war era.

Following its retirement from service, the ocean liner remained moored at a pier in Philadelphia for over 25 years. Its conversion into an artificial reef provided a way to repurpose the ship, following a long period during which its future had remained uncertain. Prior to the sinking of the SS United States, one of the largest artificial reefs created by scuttling a ship was the former aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, which was sunk in 2006 off the coast of Pensacola, also in Florida.

Authorities in Okaloosa County hope that this new underwater attraction will boost tourism and economic activity in the area, transforming a former icon of maritime transport into a habitat for marine life.