SS United States, which set transatlantic speed record during maiden voyage in 1952, is sunk off coast of Destin
The historic SS United States has reached the end of its journey at sea, sinking Wednesday off the coast of Destin, Florida, where it will begin a new life underwater as an artificial reef.
The nearly 1,000ft American-made vessel, once the fastest ocean liner in the world, was launched in 1952 and made history by setting a transatlantic speed record during its maiden voyage. The ship carried thousands of passengers across the Atlantic over 17 years of operation before being retired in 1969.
On Wednesday, the ship was deployed at approximately 2.40pm ET, with the sinking process beginning shortly before 5pm. The ship had been hollowed out, with openings cut into its hull to let water in and help it sink upright to the ocean floor. Over the next several hours, the ship gradually filled with water before finally sinking to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico around 10pm.
It will rest on the seafloor at a depth of approximately 180ft, the ship’s upper decks sitting about 55ft below the surface. As the world’s largest artificial reef, the site is expected to become a popular diving destination for divers around the world.
