The largest ocean liner ever built in the United States may soon take its final resting place at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
Few ships have carried as prestigious a passenger list as the SS United States during its service from 1952 to 1969. This 275-meter-long liner, 30 meters longer than the Titanic, transported U.S. Presidents Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and John Kennedy, as well as celebrities like Coco Chanel, Marilyn Monroe, and Walt Disney.
However, this historic vessel, docked in a Philadelphia port since 1996, has faced numerous financial disputes over the years, leading to legal battles. This situation ultimately prompted a federal judge to order the ship’s removal from its location.
Instead of demolishing the ship, as some organizations recommended, the SS United States Conservancy proposed an alternative solution: to intentionally sink the SS United States in the Gulf of Mexico. This unique idea was suggested a few years ago by Okaloosa County, located on Florida’s Panhandle coast, with the aim of making the liner the largest of the county’s approximately 500 artificial reefs. On September 24, the county approved a budget of over $10 million to acquire the SS United States in Florida. Specifically, the purchase of the vessel will cost $1 million, while $7.2 million will be allocated for its restoration and environmental compliance, along with towing costs. Additionally, over $1 million will be dedicated to creating a land-based museum entirely focused on the ship’s history.
Finally, the transport agreement has been signed. Following this decision, an agreement was reached on Tuesday between the Florida county, the ship preservation organization, and the city of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, near where the SS United States will be submerged. Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy, expressed her excitement over this outcome: « If the ship is turned into an artificial reef, it will become a unique historical attraction, both above and below the waterline, » she told the Associated Press.
Once a troop transport during the Cold War and holder of the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing, the SS United States, which hosted some of the greatest celebrities, will soon rest on the ocean floor, providing an exceptional attraction for divers, fishermen, and tourists.
Source: lefigaro
