SS United States Will Become the World's Largest Artificial Reef on Nov. 12

Okaloosa County will deploy the 990-foot ocean liner SS United States as the world's largest artificial reef on Thursday, Nov. 12, weather permitting. The ship will go down in the Gulf about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

The liner still holds the record it set in 1952 as the fastest ocean liner ever built. On the bottom, the county says, it will become a home for marine life, a premier dive site and a boost to the local and regional fishery.

"This will be a historic day for Destin-Fort Walton Beach and for a ship with such a historic story," said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. "Her story will continue to be told by thousands of people who visit her in tandem with the SS United States Conservancy's land-based museum."

The ship will be towed from Mobile, Alabama, to the site several days ahead. Deployment operations are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Nov. 12.

Sendoff ceremony, Wednesday, Nov. 11

The county will hold a free public sendoff celebrating the ship's history at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center. Light refreshments will be served.

Watch it live, Thursday, Nov. 12

AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar in Destin will host a viewing party starting at 9 a.m., with a live feed from the deployment site on its large outdoor screen. The county says the live-stream link will be posted on the SS United States page before the deployment.

Watching from the water

The county expects hundreds of boats to turn out. It is working with safety and security partners on the deployment, and spectators are expected to follow directions from the safety boats on scene. The proposed deployment location is 30° 07.148' N, 86° 46.755' W.

More information

• The ship's history: SS United States Conservancy
• A 3D model of the ship
• The completed environmental remediation

The county says the reef project was paid for entirely with tourism revenue and partner contributions.