Ocean Liner, Once world’s fastest, sinks off Florida to become the world’s largest artificial reef

Once world’s fastest, the SS United States, an ocean liner, has been deliberately sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, beginning its second life on the seafloor. The ship went down on Wednesday at around 10 p.m., roughly 22 miles off the Okaloosa County, Florida.

The sinking process began at 1 in the afternoon. The sinking process was witnessed by scuba instructor Victor Blanco, who watched it from a boat carrying about 150 people. According to him, the reef could draw divers from around the world to the Florida panhandle. He added that divers could begin exploring the wreck as early as Thursday.

According to sources, the sinking was planned. Okaloosa County bought the ship for millions of dollars with the aim of turning it into an artificial reef. The vessel had been docked in Philadelphia, passing through several owners until last year. Officials say it will now become the world’s largest artificial reef, giving marine life a new habitat, and divers an underwater site to explore.

The liner crossed the Atlantic eastbound in 3 days and 10 hours in 1952, earning the title of the fastest ocean liner in the world. It was the largest ocean liner ever built in the United States and carried several presidents and other prominent figures. It retired from service in 1969.

People who once sailed on the 990 feet long ship reminiscence their journey. Tallahassee resident Stephen Hodges sailed on it with his family in 1964 and 1967 when his stepfather, an Air Force officer was posted to Germany. He recalled the white tablecloths and dressed up waiters in the dining room.