The SS United States, once the fastest and most luxurious ocean liner to ever sail the seas, now finds itself at the heart of a fierce battle between those who want to preserve its legacy and those who see it as a perfect candidate for a Florida artificial reef. As the clock ticks toward a September court-mandated deadline, the fate of this American maritime icon has never been more uncertain—or more passionately debated.
Launched in 1952, the SS United States was a technological marvel, a symbol of post-war American ingenuity and power. Designed by William Francis Gibbs, the ship was built to be fast, luxurious, and, most importantly, unsinkable. At 990 feet long, she could accommodate 2,000 passengers and over 1,000 crew members. But what truly set her apart was her speed—capable of crossing the Atlantic in just over three days, she still holds the record for the fastest westbound transatlantic crossing.
For nearly two decades, the SS United States was the pride of America’s passenger fleet, ferrying everyone from celebrities and politicians to everyday travelers between New York and Europe. Her list of passengers reads like a who’s who of mid-20th-century America, including icons like Marilyn Monroe, President John F. Kennedy, and Walt Disney.
But as air travel began to dominate the transatlantic route, the once-glorious liner fell out of favor. By 1969, the SS United States was retired from service, and her future became increasingly uncertain. Over the years, she changed hands several times, each new owner promising grand plans that never came to pass. She was stripped of her fittings and fixtures, her elegant interiors dismantled, and her once-grand hull towed to Philadelphia, where she has languished ever since.
Enter the SS United States Conservancy, a group of passionate preservationists who have fought tooth and nail to save the ship from oblivion. Since acquiring the vessel in 2011, the Conservancy has dreamed of transforming the SS United States into a multi-use attraction—a museum, hotel, and event space that would celebrate her history and her place in American culture. But despite years of effort and countless proposals, the Conservancy’s dreams have remained just out of reach, stymied by financial difficulties, legal battles, and, most recently, a new challenge from Okaloosa County, Florida.
Okaloosa County has its own vision for the SS United States—one that involves sinking the ship to create an artificial reef off the coast of Florida. When sunk, the ship would create the largest intentionally created reef in the world measuring over 990 feet long. The Florida panhandle already boasts another huge reef created when the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany was sunk just a little more than 20 miles offshore from Pensacola. Built shortly after World War II, the Oriskany is 911 ft. long and could hold up to 80 planes. The Oriskany was sunk on May 17, 2006 at a depth of 212 feet.
Okaloosa County has already signed an agreement to purchase the iconic cruise ship. The agreement is expected to be ratified during a Board of County Commissioners meeting on September 3rd. The county’s funding proposals also include an agreement to build a museum dedicated to the ship ashore.
The proposal has generated considerable enthusiasm among local officials and environmentalists alike. Artificial reefs are known to enhance marine ecosystems, providing habitat for fish and other sea life. They also attract divers and tourists, offering a potential economic boon to the area. For Okaloosa County, sinking the SS United States would be a win-win: a way to preserve the ship’s legacy while also benefiting the environment and the local economy.
“We see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said one county official. “The SS United States is an incredible piece of history, and by transforming her into an artificial reef, we can give her a new life—one that will continue to benefit people and the planet for generations to come.”
But for the Conservancy and its supporters, the county’s plan represents nothing less than a tragedy. To them, the SS United States is not just a hunk of metal to be sunk and forgotten; she is a living testament to America’s maritime heritage, a ship that deserves to be celebrated, not scuttled.
“The SS United States is a national treasure,” said a Conservancy spokesperson. “We’ve spent years fighting to save her, and we’re not giving up now. Turning her into a reef might seem like an easy solution, but it’s not the right one. We believe that with the right support, the SS United States can still be restored and become a world-class destination that honors her incredible history.”
The Conservancy’s fight has not been an easy one. A legal battle with Penn Warehousing, the company that currently holds the ship in Philadelphia, has drained the organization’s resources and dashed its hopes of securing a permanent berth for the liner. Now, with the court’s deadline of September 12 looming, the Conservancy is facing the very real possibility that their beloved ship could be sunk—or worse, sold for scrap.
But the Conservancy’s hope is not entirely lost. The Conservancy continues to rally its supporters, urging anyone with the means and the will to step forward and help save the SS United States. They point to successful preservation efforts like the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, as proof that such projects can succeed with the right backing.
Meanwhile, Okaloosa County is moving full steam ahead with its plans, confident that their vision for the ship is the best way forward. “We understand the passion that people have for the SS United States,” said a county representative, “but we also believe that our plan offers a unique opportunity to honor the ship in a way that benefits everyone. We’re excited to see what the future holds.”
As the deadline approaches, the future of the SS United States hangs in the balance, caught between two very different visions for her final chapter. Will she be saved and restored to her former glory, or will she find a new life beneath the waves? For now, all that anyone can do is wait—and hope that, one way or another, the SS United States will continue to inspire for generations to come.
