Retired ocean liner could become world’s largest artificial reef off Florida’s Gulf Coast

Video above: Twenty-four artificial reefs deployed into Sarasota Bay

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The SS United States, a massive retired ocean liner that’s been docked in Philadelphia for nearly three decades, could soon have a new resting place — at the bottom of Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The worn-out 1,000-foot vessel is under a contingent contract with Okaloosa County, Florida to potentially be converted into the world’s largest artificial reef in Destin-Fort Walton Beach .

However, nothing is set in stone quite yet as the SS United States Conservancy, which owns the massive ship, said “the next chapter of the ship’s history is still being written.”

The ocean liner, which is more than 100 feet longer than the Titanic, was court-ordered to move out of a Philadelphia port along the Delaware River by Sept. 12. According to WPVI in Philadelphia , the vessel still holds the transatlantic speed record it set more than 70 years ago.

“We must emphasize that this proposal remains subject to various contingencies, including a successful negotiation with pier operator Penn Warehousing to extend the ship’s stay beyond the September 12 deadline, while the complex logistics of moving and reefing the ship are worked out,” the conservancy said in a Facebook post .

The group added that reefing is not the “preferred scenario” for the SS United States and would rather see the ship stay safely afloat.

“With our hand being forced by Penn Warehousing, and scrapping being the only other viable option, we believe reefing is the more dignified outcome,” the group said. They also mentioned that they have conducted a “massive nationwide search for a new temporary location.”

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners is set to review the proposal on Tuesday , which asks for a $9 million budget for “acquisition, towing, cleaning, preparation and deployment offshore.”

If the vessel was successfully deployed to Florida’s Gulf Coast, the county said it would “put two of the world’s largest artificial reefs in northwest Florida” which would in turn bolster Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s status as a “premier fishing destination.”

Since the first public artificial reef site was created in 1976, more than 500 reef sites have been deployed in the waters off Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The reefs not only attract marine life but also fishers, divers and snorkelers.

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