Historic SS United States scheduled to sink off Florida coast November 12

The SS United States, a legendary ocean liner that once held the speed record for crossing the Atlantic, is set to be deliberately sunk off the Florida Gulf Coast on November 12 as an artificial reef.

According to reporting from the Pensacola News Journal, the vessel—which served as a symbol of American maritime achievement during the Cold War era—will be scuttled in a controlled sinking operation. The ship has sat idle for years after being retired from service, and environmental and maritime officials have approved its use as a reef structure to support marine habitat.

The sinking represents an unconventional end for one of the most storied ships in U.S. maritime history. The SS United States earned fame in 1952 when it crossed the Atlantic in record time, a feat that stood for decades. The 990-foot vessel also served military and diplomatic purposes throughout its operational life before eventually being decommissioned.