The historic ocean liner SS United States is set to be sunk off the Gulf coast of Florida today, Wednesday 11 November 2026, in a final plunge that will turn the 990-foot ship into the world's largest artificial reef.

Okaloosa County, Florida, will begin deployment operations at 1pm Central Time, about 22 nautical miles south-west of Destin and 32 nautical miles south-east of Pensacola. The sinking will be livestreamed, with the viewing link posted on TheSSUS.com.

Why the sinking was moved to Veterans Day

The sinking was originally planned for Thursday 12 November. County officials announced on Monday night, 9 November, that it would be brought forward by a day because heavy winds and unsafe weather conditions were forecast for 12 November.

The new date falls on Veterans Day, a connection county officials acknowledged in their announcement. A public send-off ceremony that had been scheduled for 1.30pm on 11 November has been cancelled.

Tugboats began moving the ship away from its berth in Mobile, Alabama, on the morning of 9 November. A security perimeter has been set up around the liner, keeping onlookers at least one nautical mile away.

On 7 November, a federal judge in Florida denied an emergency restraining order sought by the SS United States Preservation Foundation, which had tried to halt the sinking. The group argued that the US Army Corps of Engineers approved the project without adequately examining environmental risks or historic preservation requirements.

How the 990-foot liner will go down

Workers have spent months preparing the ship for submersion, in a process known as remediation. Hazardous materials were removed, including paint, oil, fuel and other chemicals, along with about 400 portholes, windows, wiring, pipes and fittings.

Okaloosa County obtained approvals from the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency before the operation went ahead.

About two dozen workers will stay aboard during the sinking. Some will use cutting tools to open a series of square holes, pre-marked in the hull and decks, while valves controlling intake pipes are opened and the hull slowly fills with water, allowing the ship to settle upright on the Gulf floor.

Officials say the ship will sit 180 feet deep, with its upper decks about 60 feet below the surface. The United States is 100 feet longer than the RMS Titanic. How long the sinking itself will take is uncertain: county officials have said it could take three hours, or it could take all day.

From Blue Riband to the Gulf floor

The SS United States sailed between New York and Europe from 1952 to 1969, carrying more than 1,900 passengers with a crew of more than 1,000. On its maiden voyage in July 1952, it became the fastest passenger liner to cross the Atlantic, winning the Blue Riband, an honour it still holds.

The ship crossed from Ambrose Lightship, at the entrance to New York Harbour, to Bishop Rock off Cornwall in 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, averaging 35.59 knots over about 2,942 nautical miles.

Designed and built in partnership with US Lines and the US Navy, the liner could have been converted quickly into a troopship capable of carrying 14,000 soldiers. But it could not compete with expanding commercial air travel, and it was abruptly taken out of service at Newport News, Virginia, in November 1969.

The ship left its longtime berth in Philadelphia under tow on 19 February 2025 and arrived in Mobile, Alabama, on 3 March, after an 1,800-mile journey. Okaloosa County bought the vessel in 2024, after earlier plans to save it as a floating hotel or tourist attraction fell through.

What happens next

Once the liner is on the seabed, it will join north-west Florida's extensive artificial reef network, which includes the USS Oriskany, a former aircraft carrier sunk off Pensacola in 2006. Artificial reefs provide shelter for fish, algae and corals, and help protect the coast from erosion.

No divers will be allowed to visit the wreck on deployment day, and officials have not confirmed a date when public diving will begin. A museum featuring the ship's two massive funnels and other fixtures is planned to keep its memory alive on land.

Frequently asked questions

When will the SS United States be sunk? Deployment operations are scheduled to begin at 1pm Central Time on Wednesday 11 November 2026, weather permitting.

Where will it be sunk? About 22 nautical miles south-west of Destin, Florida, in the Gulf of America, at a depth of 180 feet.

Can I watch the sinking? Yes. Officials say the sinking will be livestreamed, with the link posted on TheSSUS.com before deployment.