Legendary Ocean Liner SS United States Will Sink in November

The end of an era is close at hand, as the Board of County Commissioners of Okaloosa County, Florida has now set the timeline for the reefing of the SS United States, the 1951-launched ocean liner that has been at the center of controversy for several years.

“The vessel will be deployed in the Gulf about 22 [nautical miles] southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, the second week of November 2026,” a statement from the Board of County Commissioners confirmed on October 9, 2026.

An exact date for the ship’s deployment has not yet been announced and the statement notes that it is a weather-dependent action that may change as conditions necessitate.

“The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners is working with our safety and security partners for a safe and efficient deployment,” the statement explained. “This is an exciting move forward to create a one-of-a-kind resource for the environment and for our tourism industry.”

The SS United States Conservancy is continuing its plans for a land-based museum that will be near the departure points for future diving tours to the ship. The museum will include the ship’s 6-story funnels, the radar mast, and other components that have been salvaged as the ship has been prepared for reefing, along with artwork and other artifacts from the vessel’s history.

The Conservancy also noted that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued its final approval for the deployment, which was not opposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

According to the Conservancy’s online Frequently Asked Questions, the entire reefing process will be live-streamed, though exact details of the event have not yet been released.

“The deployment operations will require a wide security perimeter around the ship that the US Coast Guard and other authorities will maintain, so there will be no close-up vantage points,” the FAQ reads. “Private charters and other boats will advertise tours outside the security perimeter.”

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No explosives will be used to sink the ship once she is towed to her final position, and the Conservancy notes that she will likely be anchored for two days while final preparations are made. Controlled flooding will be used to gently sink the vessel and ensure an upright position on the Gulf floor about 180 feet down, with the ship’s top deck roughly 55 feet below the water’s surface.

How Has the Ship Been Prepared for Reefing?

Great care has been taken with preparing the ship for reefing, including removing all toxic materials that might present marine hazards once the vessel has been sunk. Parts of the ship that would be considered unsafe for even the most experienced divers have also been sealed so they will be inaccessible after the ship is reefed.

Information on Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s official website notes that other remediation has included:

• Emptying, cleaning, and inspecting all 128 fuel and lubricant tanks
• Removal of the ventilation system, wiring, and all exterior exfoliating paint
• More than 400 portholes removed
• All exterior flooring with high PCB concentration removed and disposed of appropriately

In addition, the deployment site has been thoroughly scanned and visually surveyed “to verify that there are no existing historical or natural resources that would be impacted by the deployment.”

The ship’s remediation has been undertaken in Mobile, Alabama. The SS United States was towed to Mobile in February 2025, departing Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 19 and reaching Mobile Bay on March 3. That voyage featured live tracking and various vantage opportunities for fans to see the ship underway at appropriate points on her 2,000-mile journey.

The SS United States had been docked in the City of Brotherly Love since 1996, but a rent dispute ended her stay at Pier 82. The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners approved the purchase of the ship in October 2024.