SS United States Sinks Today as World's Largest Reef: Time & How to Watch
The 990-foot SS United States goes down off Florida today, becoming the world's largest artificial reef. Deployment starts at 1 p.m. CT — how to watch.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Lowlova
DESTIN, Florida — The SS United States, the 990-foot ocean liner that still holds the transatlantic speed record, will slip beneath the waves on Wednesday, November 11, when Okaloosa County begins sinking it about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin, Florida, to create the world’s largest artificial reef. Deployment operations start at 1 p.m. Central Time, and the ship will rest on the Gulf floor 180 feet deep.
The county moved the sinking up a day from November 12 after forecasts warned of heavy winds and unsafe offshore conditions. The public send-off ceremony has been cancelled, and the sinking will be streamed live online. On November 7, a federal judge denied a preservation group’s request to halt the submersion.
- Deployment begins at 1 p.m. CT on Wednesday, November 11, off Destin, Florida.
- The liner will rest 180 feet deep, with its upper decks about 60 feet below the surface.
- The sinking was moved up one day from November 12 because of forecast heavy winds.
- Divers will be able to visit the wreck from November 13, county officials said.
What Time the SS United States Sinks and How to Watch It Live
Okaloosa County said deployment will begin at 1 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday, November 11, which is Veterans Day. County officials said the sinking could take about 45 minutes, while the county’s chief of natural resources, Alex Fogg, cautioned it could take three hours or all day. About two dozen workers will stay aboard, opening valves so the hull fills with water, while a security perimeter keeps onlookers at least one nautical mile away. The sinking will be streamed live online.
How the 990-Foot Liner Becomes the World’s Largest Artificial Reef
Turning the retired liner into a reef took more than two years after Okaloosa County bought the vessel in 2024. Workers removed hazardous materials, fuel oil, contaminated water and grease, and took out 400 portholes, windows, cargo hatches and other fittings. About 40 to 50 people worked on the ship six days a week under Coleen Marine of Mobile, Alabama. The county obtained approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before towing the liner from Mobile, where it left its berth at about 9 a.m. on November 9. It will join Northwest Florida’s reef network, which includes the USS Oriskany, sunk off Pensacola in 2006.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Length | 990 feet; about 100 feet longer than the Titanic |
| Maiden voyage | July 1952; won the Blue Riband |
| Record crossing | 3 days, 10 hours, 40 minutes at 35.59 knots |
| Passenger service | 1952–1969; 1,900+ passengers, 1,000+ crew |
| Reef location | 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin, Florida |
| Resting depth | 180 feet; upper decks about 60 feet below surface |
| Sinking start | 1 p.m. CT, Wednesday, November 11, 2026 |
From Blue Riband Record to the Gulf Floor: the Ship’s 74-Year Story
On its maiden voyage in July 1952, the SS United States became the fastest passenger liner to cross the Atlantic, winning the Blue Riband, an honour it still holds. The ship crossed from New York Harbor to Bishop Rock off Cornwall, England, in 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, averaging 35.59 knots, or 41 miles per hour.
The liner sailed between New York and Europe from 1952 to 1969, carrying more than 1,900 passengers with a crew of over 1,000. Built with U.S. Lines and the U.S. Navy, it could convert into a troopship carrying 14,000 soldiers, with a 400-bed hospital. Air travel ended its commercial run, and the ship was withdrawn from service in November 1969. After decades of failed rescue plans, Okaloosa County bought it in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time will the SS United States sink on November 11?
Deployment begins at 1 p.m. Central Time off Destin, Florida. Officials say it could take about 45 minutes, or longer.
Where can I watch the SS United States sinking live?
The sinking will be streamed live online. A public viewing party in Destin begins at noon Central Time.
How deep will the SS United States sit on the Gulf floor?
The liner will rest 180 feet deep, with its upper decks about 60 feet below the surface, county officials said.
When can divers visit the SS United States wreck?
Divers will be able to visit the wreck from November 13, county officials said.
Divers will be able to visit the wreck from November 13, and the ship’s two funnels will anchor a land-based museum.
