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SS United States Sunk to Become World's Largest Artificial Reef
· Confirmed
In Short: The SS United States, the fastest passenger ship ever built, was sunk off the coast of Florida to become the world's largest artificial reef.
LIVE 🚢 SS United States being sunk to become world’s largest artificial reef. FOX 29 Philadelphia
The SS United States, once a beacon of American engineering and a fixture of the Delaware River waterfront in South Philadelphia, was sunk off the coast of Florida on Wednesday to become the world's largest artificial reef.
According to the SS United States Conservancy, the ship is the fastest passenger ship ever built and the last of America’s 20th century ocean liners.
The ship left Mobile, Alabama, where it spent the last 20 months undergoing preparation for its new life as an artificial reef.
The SS United States Conservancy, dedicated to preserving the ship, ensured that parts of the vessel would be saved and that the ship would not be lost forever.
The ship's transformation into an artificial reef is expected to enhance Gulf marine habitats and tourism opportunities.
About 500 artificial reefs are located in the waters near where the SS United States will rest, and Okaloosa County aims to be the best diving destination in the world.
Background
The SS United States, once a fixture of the Delaware River waterfront in South Philadelphia, will be sunk Wednesday to become the world's largest artificial reef.
What's confirmed
- ( WALA ) - The SS United States slipped beneath the waves Wednesday night to the world’s largest artificial reef, weather permitting.
- Watch the final moments before the SS United States fully sinks off the coast of Florida on Wednesday, becoming the world's largest artificial reef.
- Christened in 1952, the SS United States was once considered a beacon of American engineering, doubling as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops.
- After hours of preparation and anticipation, the SS United States has officially been sunk off the coast of Florida to become the world’s largest artificial reef.
- To this day, the SS United States holds the transatlantic speed record for an ocean liner.
- PHILADELPHIA - The SS United States, a piece of maritime history best known for shattering the transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, was sunk off the coast of Florida on Wednesday and became the world's largest artificial reef.
- As it sat in South Philly, we've seen the exterior of the SS United States for years.
- After several different plans for the ship over the years fell through, it was sold last to Okaloosa County, Florida to become part of the world's largest artifical reef.
What's still developing
- Previously, the largest artificial reef came from the 2006 scuttling of an aircraft carrier, the USS Oriskany in the Gulf off of Pensacola — near enough to the SS United States site that an experienced diver could visit both in the same day, Tomecek said.
- “I’m just so happy that we are able to save parts of her,” Gibbs said.
Sources
- Fox 10 Newslink
- WJHGlink
- WPBFlink
- Livenowfoxlink
- Fox29link
- WarpBeat — background on SS United States Becomes World's Largest Artificial Reef link
- FOX 29 Philadelphia — video link
- FOX 32 Chicago — video link
- Pensacola News Journal — video link
- CBS Philadelphia — video link
- FOX 29 Philadelphia — video link
- UpNorthLive — video link