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The SS United States will be sunk and made into an artificial reef

The SS United States in 1952
The SS United States in 1952 (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
  • The historic SS United States ocean liner is being prepared to become the world's largest artificial reef off Florida's Gulf Coast.
  • The ship is currently undergoing an extensive cleaning process at the Port of Mobile, Alabama, to minimize environmental impact.
  • Competing diving businesses and counties are vying for the ship's location, with offers of financial incentives to place it closer to their respective areas.
  • Legal challenges have been raised to prevent the sinking of the historically significant vessel, but proponents argue it's the only alternative to scrapping.
  • Okaloosa County, the current owner, plans to sink the ship by the end of the year and create a museum dedicated to its history.
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