A historic American supership that was once hailed as the country's fastest ocean liner has begun sinking near Destin-Fort Walton Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast.
asserted
that → hail → Coast
The SS United States, a retired ocean liner built in 1950 and 1951, started its journey to become the largest artificial reef on Wednesday morning.
Crews flooded the ship with seawater to commence the slow process of intentional sinking of the fastest ocean liner, CBS News reported.
asserted
News → retire → liner
Staffers carved multiple holes in the ship's deck over the past several weeks to prepare it for descending, the outlet reported.
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outlet → carve → descending
More than 400 portholes were removed to allow water to enter and for the ship to finally sit at a depth of about 60 feet below the surface.
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ship → remove → surface
The ship that spent almost three decades docked on the Delaware River in Philadelphia will soon open for diving tours, the officials said.
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officials → spend → tours
Its signature red-white-and-blue smokestacks were removed from the ship for a planned museum nearby, authorities added.
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authorities → remove → museum
As of 7.30pm on Wednesday, the ship was fully flooded and in the process of sinking, ABC 7 reported.
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ABC → flood → process
The SS United States, a historic American supership, begun sinking near Destin-Fort Walton Beach on Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday
The country's fastest ocean liner will become the largest artificial reef in Florida
The ship that spent almost three decades docked on the Delaware River in Philadelphia will soon open for diving tours
The decision to sink the boat came after authorities said that explosives cannot be used to plunge it.
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explosives → begin → it
Okaloosa County’s spokesperson, Nick Tomecek, said the use of explosives was banned due to federal environmental and explosive rules.
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use → say → rules
The county purchased the ship in 2024 for $10 million to add to its collection of artificial reefs, the outlet reported.
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outlet → purchase → reefs
In 2015, a Brooklyn businessman named John Quadrozzi Jr expressed interest in purchasing the ship and converting it to office spaces, a gym, a swimming pool, restaurants, a theater, a maritime school and a museum, the Brooklyn Paper reported at the time.
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Paper → name → time
In 2020, a real estate firm also began approaching multiple city governments to propose a hotel-and-museum complex, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
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Inquirer → begin → complex
However, in 2024, the SS United States Conservancy told Newsweek that after a decade of trying to advance a plan, local leaders 'did not embrace the project.'
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leaders → tell → project
The Conservancy explained that 'with no viable options' for renovation, they were forced to reach an agreement with Florida officials to move the ship south to become an artificial reef.
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they → explain → ship
The Board of County Commissioners in Destin, Florida, then announced in October 2026 that the ship had been fully remediated and the Army Corps of Engineers scheduled the SS United States' final deployment.
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Corps → announce → deployment
The NY Coalition tried to save the SS United States but their attempts failed alike.
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attempts → try → States
'Those who cherish the SS United States and continue to fight for her future as a preserved, floating landmark and symbol of American excellence, innovation, and pride,' the coalition said.
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coalition → cherish → excellence
'SHAME on anyone who conspired in silence against the will of We the People.’
Tugboats are pictured above transporting the iconic SS United States to the south on March 3, 2025
Multiple proposals were floated before the ultimate decision to sink the ship.
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proposals → conspire → ship
A proposal in 2020 sought to restore the ship as a hotel and museum complex
The SS United States was the fastest ship to sail the ocean.
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States → seek → ocean
It first hit the waters in 1952
The ship was designed by American naval architect William Francis Gibbs, who ironically described it as: ‘You can’t set her on fire, you can’t sink her, and you can’t catch her.
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you → hit → her
The historic liner first set sail on July 3, 1952, ahead of Independence Day celebrations.
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liner → set → celebrations
Harry Manning, Amelia Earhart's co-pilot, commanded the ship and set a speed record.
The ship served as an icon, carrying immigrants and celebrities including Walt Disney and John F Kennedy throughout its career between 1952 and 1969.
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ship → command → 1952
The SS United States was soon dubbed 'America's Flagship' and became a marvel throughout the 1950s.
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States → dub → 1950s
Once air travel became more accessible in the 1960s, the ship struggled financially and was retired in 1969.
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ship → become → 1969
The ship was then towed to Philadelphia, where it remained until February 2025.
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it → tow → February
The ship was initially going to be sunk on November 12, but the date was moved up one day due to possible inclement weather.
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date → go → weather
The Aporia
