Moment historic SS United States sinks off Florida’s coast

Updated: 12 November 2026 - 7:48 GMT+1

The historic SS United States, once the world's fastest ocean liner, was deliberately sunk in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida on Wednesday, November 11.

The vessel was taken beneath the water as part of a $13.5 million project to turn it into the world's largest artificial reef, attracting divers and fishing enthusiasts while creating a habitat for marine life.

The controlled sinking took several hours, longer than organisers had initially expected. Crews had filled 128 fuel and lubricant tanks with water to help the ship settle evenly on the ocean floor. By around 9 pm, the giant vessel tilted to one side before finally disappearing beneath the surface.