SS United States: New Largest wreck in the world

Last updated on 21 Feb 2025

SS United States berthed in Philadelphia PA

Great news was announced for wreck divers: since the 19th Feb, the SS United States has begun its 2-week journey to Alabama, from where it will then be towed to Florida to be scuttled as the new largest wreck/artificial reef in the world.

💡

An Artificial Reef is a manmade structure that is assimilated by marine organisms and provides a shelter/habitat for the animals. Vessels that are sunk purposefully are sometimes coined as Artificial reefs instead of wrecks as they become great habitats within a few years, although, in this context, both terms mean the same thing.

Artificial reef in tropical waters, with growing corals on it — Example of an artificial reef that is not a wreck

The SS United States has a total length of 302 meters (or 990 feet) and a height of 53 meters (or 174 feet), making it the soon-to-be longest wreck in the world.

On the 30th of August 2024, Okaloosa County announced a contingent contract to buy the former ocean liner for $1 million to scuttle it off Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The contract would only come into action if there was no way to recover the vessel. Since then, the contract has taken effect, and the SS United States has started its journey to its resting point. About 50 miles from it lies the USS Oriskany, a 271 meters (911 feet) long wreck, near Pensacola pass.

Additionally to the initial cost of the Ship, the county has determined an additional cost of $10 million and 18 months of preparation for the scuttling project, which will include the cleaning up, preparation of the ship, the logistics for sinking it, as well as an on-land museum with some recreations of several rooms of the boat.

Hull of the SS United States, docked in Philadelphia PA — SS United States

History

The SS United States was ordered to be built in 1949, a formidable task undertaken by Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. She was laid down in 1950 and launched on the 23rd of June 1951. The cost of the project neighbored $72 million, which is equivalent to about $950 million in 2025.

Designed by Williams Francis Gibbs, famous American Naval Architect, the vessel could hold up to 1972 passengers and was popularized for its transatlantic route between South Hampton in New York and Le Havre in France. She first sailed from July 3rd to July 7th, 1952, gaining a lot of popularity. On it return journey, she was welcomed by 150,000 people.

SS United States returning from her maiden voyage - Credit: By "My late father" - Original photo, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40771483

The SS United States was constantly one of the most popular ships in the US until the late 50s/early 60s, when aircrafts proved to be more efficient and faster for transatlantic traveling. By the end of the Sixties, only the SS United States and RMS Queen Elizabeth operated those routes. To re-ignite her popularity, she was used for longer routes with more distant destinations (including Africa, South America, etc...).

From 1969 until 1996, the SS United States was Laid up in Virginia, where she was subsequently sold to multiple private entities, including Norwegian Cruise Line who had her in their possession from 2003 to 2011. However, Before even using it, NCL found that the ship was too costly, even to keep afloat.

At this point, the threat of scraping was looming, and the United States conservancy foundation bought her back for $3 million to preserve her and keep her from being scrapped for parts. For the next few years, multiple entities had many ideas for the ship, including turning it into a hotel, and a casino, among other ideas. Nevertheless, none of these ideas were successful, and in 2021 after a docking rent increase, a legal battle erupted between the conservancy and the company owning the docking pier. The legal battle concluded in 2024, when the court ordered the Conservancy to remove the ship from the pier by September 12th 2024.

Reception

Opinions regarding its sinking have been mitigated. Although divers obviously see this as great news and a new diving opportunity (especially for wreck-diving enthusiasts), there has been a lot of pushback from another group of people— mainly those who have been on the ship in the past- claiming there should have been more efforts to salvage it and that it was a shame to scuttle it.

In any case, the county hopes the multi-million dollar investment in the sinking of the vessel will pay itself off in the long run through diving resorts and indirect tourism revenue (divers coming spending money on accommodation, food, etc...).