The SS United States was retired from service in 1969 following the rise and popularity of commercial air travel. Since that time, she has had multiple owners, undergone extensive removal of nearly all of the items from her decks and her engines were rendered unable to function. Efforts to restore her were made by multiple entities for over two decades. The cost burden and challenge of finding a suitable location for her to dock for public access created a situation where she could only be scrapped or saved as an artificial reef. Okaloosa County’s allocation of funding for the artificial reef project is merely a fraction of the hundreds of millions of dollars in costs that it would take for a full restoration of the vessel.

Before her deployment in the Gulf waters, all of the environmentally unsafe materials will be removed. This includes all non-metal items, wiring and fuel. She will have holes strategically cut around the ship to ensure she lands upright as she is submerged. Passages will also be opened allowing for marine life to thrive in and around the ship. All of the preparations in Mobile are in close collaboration with multiple environmental agencies including the Department of Environmental Protection and Environmental Protection Agency.

This project is funded using tourism bed tax revenue collected from short-term rentals in Okaloosa County and no general fund revenue is being used. Tourism revenue cannot be used for road and stormwater improvements. Fortunately, Okaloosa County’s voter-approved infrastructure surtax has helped with those improvements. And guess what? Tourists pay both when they spend money during their visit.

The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners voted to allocate $10.1 million to the entire project including towing operations, remediation, the purchase of the vessel and funding to help the SS United State Conservancy create a land-based museum located in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area. The project has already seen a return in its efforts to promote the Destin-Fort Walton Beach destination and the history of the vessel due to the amount of interest from the public and media worldwide.

Okaloosa County will be developing a plan in the coming months to make viewing her deployment accessible either virtually or in person via the media.

No. Safety and security are paramount during this process. Updates and information on the progress of the SS United States will be delivered to the media to keep the public and her fans informed. Her location in Mobile is limited to authorized professional contractors performing the necessary work preparing her for deployment.

As the “World’s” largest artificial reef, she will literally benefit the entire world. Our marine species will be the greatest benefactor as it will provide much-needed habitat for them to thrive. In addition to the usual reef fish species like red snapper and grouper, the size of the SS United States will also attract the more pelagic species of fish such as amberjack, mackerel and tuna.

Just as artificial reefs attract marine species, they will also attract divers and anglers. This majestic vessel will be enjoyed by countless divers of all skill levels from around the world. The history and story of the SS United States will be told as divers view her long deck and masterfully crafted hull. Locals and visitors to Destin-Fort Walton Beach on a fishing charter, as well as the commercial fishing industry, will also be able to enjoy the bounty of fish that will be attracted to the reef.

Local businesses related to tourism, like lodging, restaurants and dive shops will also benefit from the visitors traveling to experience the history of the SS United States. The economic benefits will be amplified as it will draw attention from around the world to view, dive, fish and learn about America’s Flagship.

Yes. Okaloosa County is working with the SS United States Conservancy, the previous owner of the ship, to develop a land-based museum in Destin-Fort Walton Beach that will preserve the history of the SS United States, tell her many stories and bring an interactive experience to all who visit the museum that will safeguard her history for generations.

The SS United States must undergo a year-long process to prepare her to become the World’s Largest Artificial Reef. This process includes the removal of potentially harmful items and substances from the ship to ensure an environmentally safe deployment to the bottom of the Gulf waters.

The SS United States will undergo about a year-long remediation process in Mobile and when complete, she will be towed to about 20 Nautical Miles south of Destin-Fort Walton Beach at a permitted location to be sunk. The exact location will be identified prior to the deployment date.

No. The ship was gutted over 30 years ago and there is not much left inside except for the potentially hazardous material we plan to remove before she is deployed as the World's Largest Artificial Reef. Some larger items like the stacks and the mast have been reserved for the SS United States Conservancy for their land-based museum that will be located in Destin-Fort Walton Beach. No other parts or pieces will be made available to the public at this time.

Okaloosa County has deployed (sunk) more than a dozen large vessels in recent years and each one has its own story and process for deployment depending on the size, type and condition. Each vessel was safely prepared (just as the SSUS will be) for the environment and successfully deployed to the benefit of marine life and the entire state for tourism opportunities.

The SS United States’ size, rich history and benefit to the marine environment were the main reasons she was identified to be beneficial to the artificial reef program. The remediation work that had been completed before Okaloosa’s purchase also offered cost savings to allow for a quicker timeline for artificial reef deployment.

You can view a comprehensive map and some 3D models of Okaloosa County’s artificial reefs at https://www.destinfwb.com/explore/eco-tourism/artificial-reefs/.

The SS United States hull and superstructure is built of both steel and aluminum.  This mixed metal construction resulted in a lighter vessel and contributed to her record-breaking speed during the 1950s and 60s.  During cleaning and preparation, the team will remove all potentially harmful items and also reduce the aluminum superstructure to allow for greater accessibility through a shallower deployment depth.  The remaining metal(s) that make up the ship will serve as a substrate for encrusting organisms and the basis for reef settlement.

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