The iconic SS United States, once a majestic ocean liner, is set to take on a new life as the world’s largest artificial reef.
In 1959, Chris Corsentino sailed on this famed vessel from New York to Germany when he was just four years old, accompanying his father on an army assignment.
Recalling his childhood memories, Corsentino shared, “I remember being in the playroom with my brother. They had hobby horses with wheels and we would get on those little hobby horses on one end up against the wall and wait for the ship to hit a swell and then we’d roll down to the other side.”
Originally launched in 1952, the SS United States spanned the length of three football fields and housed over 400 passenger rooms.
Despite its grandeur, the ship only sailed for less than two decades, as the rise of air travel changed how people crossed the Atlantic.
It was retired from service in 1969 and spent the following decades docked at various ports across the country.
Last year, however, Florida’s Okaloosa County made a significant move by purchasing the ship, and it is now anchored in Mobile, Alabama, awaiting its transformation.
Preparations are underway to prepare the SS United States for its final voyage to the ocean floor off the coast of Destin, Florida.
Before the sinking, crews must strip the vessel of all non-metal and hazardous materials, including old fuel, to ensure a clean transition into its new role as an artificial reef.
The effort to sink the SS United States aims to not only provide ecological benefits but also to enhance local tourism.
As Alex Fogg, the Natural Resources Chief for Okaloosa County, noted, “By creating a reef with something as iconic as the SS United States, it’s going to bring a lot of people to the destination to go fishing and diving.”
The Florida coast is already home to various artificial reefs made from cement structures and small ships.
Fogg predicts that the SS United States will be a flagship addition to this program, significantly boosting tourism in the region.
Expected to generate about $5 million annually, the ship’s conversion into a reef will contribute to Florida’s estimated $3.1 billion recreation and tourism industry.
While the ship’s preparations continue, it’s already creating a tourism boom in Mobile, Alabama.
Willie Jones, the captain of the riverboat Perdido Queen, has seen a surge in visitors wanting to catch a glimpse of the magnificent liner.
Historically, Jones would host three or four 20-person cruises to the port in the past three years.
However, since the SS United States arrived, his boat took out 1,502 passengers in March alone.
“Most of these people are coming from out of town, so they’re staying in the hotels, eating at the restaurants,” Jones remarked, highlighting the infusion of tourism in the local economy.
On a recent Friday afternoon, about 50 visitors climbed aboard the Perdido Queen for a close-up view of the SS United States.
As they approached, guide Jon Robitaille excitedly announced, “All right, there she is. The SS United States — 990 feet in length, making her 100 feet longer than the Titanic.”
The sight of the imposing black metal structure left visitors in awe.
From the ship’s deck, workers appeared tiny as they waved at the tourists below.
Corsentino, now an adult, could not resist revisiting the ship that held a special place in his childhood.
“It’s an old dame. It’s beautiful,” he said, reflecting on the significance of the vessel.
Feeling a sense of nostalgia, he concluded, “It’s like an old friend. I feel like I should pull over and give it a kiss.”
As the SS United States prepares for its final journey, it is clear that it will leave a lasting impact both as an environmentally friendly reef and as an unforgettable part of maritime history.
image source from：https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/04/25/retired-ocean-liner-gets-second-life-as-an-artificial-reef
