SS United States, a History-Making Ship, to Be Reborn as Reef

The largest passenger ship ever built in the US is now set to become a part of the undersea world it once helped traverse. 

For years, the SS United States was the jewel of the transatlantic corridor. It was built in 1952. It is 990 feet long and weighs 53,330 tons. There are bigger and faster cruise ships now. But the United States left a key mark on US maritime history. It broke the record for fastest transatlantic crossing. It ferried diplomats on vital missions. And it always remained on standby to convert to a troop transport in times of war.  

Of late, however, the United States has sat in dockage in Philadelphia. It's in need of heavy repairs. It's also badly out-of-date. The ship has logged more fees and fines over the past decade than nautical miles. Some advised the ship be scuttled. A team of historians and conservationists have a different plan. 

“The SS United States has inspired millions the world over,” Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy, told The Associated Press. It's a symbol of US pride and excellence, Gibbs said. “Should the ship be (transformed) into an artificial reef, she will become a unique historic attraction above and below the waterline.” 

The notion: clean the ship, pilot it to the Gulf of Mexico, then sink it. The metal frame will attract fish, eels, crustaceans, and coral. It'll transform into an undersea habitat and attraction for divers. The plan would take about 1½ years to complete. If successful, the SS United States will sail into the record books once again. This time it'll be the world’s largest artificial reef.   

Photo of the SS United States from Wikimedia Commons courtesy of Mpftmead.