One of the most famous ocean liners in American history will be intentionally sunk off Florida's Gulf Coast on Wednesday, Nov. 11, and the public can watch the historic event unfold live online.
The SS United States, a 990-foot luxury ocean liner that once held the title of the world's fastest passenger ship, is scheduled to be deployed approximately 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, where it will become the world's largest artificial reef.
Okaloosa County officials announced that deployment operations will begin at 1 p.m. Central Time (2 p.m. Eastern), with a livestream available to viewers around the world.
Those interested in watching can visit the official Destin-Fort Walton Beach website, where a link to the livestream will be available.
The livestream will also be available through TheSSUS.com.
The sinking was originally scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, but officials moved the event up one day because of forecast heavy winds and potentially unsafe conditions.
"Safety is always a top priority in Okaloosa County," Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin said. "There is simply no reason to take an unnecessary risk when adjusting the schedule will allow us to carry out this historic deployment safely and smoothly."
The change means the ship's final voyage will take place on Veterans Day, a coincidence Goodwin said carries special significance.
"On Veterans Day, as we honor the men and women who served our nation, we will also honor the legacy of the SS United States, a magnificent ship that proudly bears the name of the country they so bravely defended," Goodwin said.
For those hoping to watch the event in person, a public livestream viewing party will be held at AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar in Destin.
The deployment will be shown on a large outdoor screen.
The ship's offshore location means the sinking will not be visible from Destin's beaches. Boaters hoping to witness the deployment from the water are expected to follow instructions from safety and security vessels operating near the site.
A previously scheduled public sendoff ceremony at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center has been canceled because of the revised deployment schedule.
First launched in 1952, the SS United States was celebrated as a marvel of American engineering, combining luxury accommodations with extraordinary speed.
At 990 feet long, the vessel is approximately 100 feet longer than the Titanic and still holds the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner.
The ship carried presidents, celebrities and thousands of passengers during its years of service before being retired in 1969.
After decades of inactivity and several unsuccessful restoration efforts, Okaloosa County purchased the vessel in 2024 with plans to transform it into a massive artificial reef.
The ship was subsequently transported to Mobile, Alabama, where crews undertook extensive preparations to make it suitable for deployment.
Those preparations included removing hazardous materials, cleaning the vessel and preserving historically significant components for a future museum.
Rather than using explosives, crews plan to sink the vessel through a controlled flooding process.
Once deployed, the ship will rest in approximately 180 feet of water, with portions of its upper structure rising to within roughly 60 feet of the surface.
The project is expected to create habitat for marine life while establishing a major new attraction for recreational divers and anglers along Florida's Emerald Coast.
Officials also plan to establish a land-based museum in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area to preserve the vessel's history and display artifacts recovered before its deployment.
Additional information about the ship, its history and its transformation into an artificial reef is available through the official SS United States project website.
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