Historic passenger ship makes final voyage to become world’s largest artificial diving reef

John E. Kaye
- Published
- News

An historic ocean liner that once ferried immigrants, Hollywood stars, and heads of state across the Atlantic in record time has begun her final voyage to become the world’s largest artificial reef
The SS United States, the largest passenger ship ever built in America, left Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront yesterday morning.
She is being towed to Mobile, Alabama, for planned prep work before finding her final resting place at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.
Officials in Okaloosa County on Florida’s coastal Panhandle hope she will become the signature diving attraction on a giant artificial reef and generate millions of dollars in local scuba tourism.
At 990 feet, the SS United States was 100ft longer than the Titanic and the largest passenger ship ever built in America.
Nicknamed ‘Big U’, the vessel ferried four presidents across the Atlantic Ocean, hosted Duke Ellington and Sylvia Plath, and captured the world’s imagination in the mid-20th century it broke the transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage.
The United States crossed eastbound in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes at an average of more than 35 knots, besting the RMS Queen Mary’s time by 10 hours.
To this day, she holds the transatlantic speed record for an ocean liner.
The vessel went on to cross the Atlantic 800 times, carrying the rich and famous as well as immigrants setting out for new lives and middle-class Americans eager to experience Europe.
Despite her record speed, passenger numbers fell in the mid-1960s due to the rise in jet-propelled transatlantic flights, and she was withdrawn from service in 1969.
She was later bounced between various private owners who hoped to redevelop it. But despite various plans, the ship was left rusting for decades on the Delaware River waterfront.
“The ship will forever symbolize our nation’s strength, innovation, and resilience,” said Susan Gibbs, president of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of the naval architect who designed the vessel.
“We wish her ‘fair winds and following seas’ on her historic journey to her new home.”
Sign up to The European Newsletter
RECENT ARTICLES
-
Mergers and partnerships drive Africa’s mining boom – but experts warn on long-term resilience
-
New AI breakthrough promises to end ‘drift’ that costs the world trillions
-
Europe tightens grip on strategic space data as dependence on U.S tech comes under scrutiny
-
Trinity Business School study warns conspiracy theories are fueling real-world protest and sabotage
-
GITEX GLOBAL 2025 to spotlight AI’s expanding role in future-critical sectors
-
UK organisations show rising net zero ambition despite financial pressures, new survey finds
-
HumanX to establish permanent European base with 2026 Amsterdam AI summit
-
Gulf ESG efforts fail to link profit with sustainability, study shows
-
Glastonbury and Coachella set the stage for $400bn music tourism growth
-
Geopolitical volatility enters global top ten business risks for first time, new survey finds
-
Redress and UN network call for fashion industry to meet sustainability goals
-
Dar Global unveils $1bn Trump Plaza Jeddah in second Saudi venture with Trump Organization
-
Investors eye UAE as Belt and Road real estate gateway for Asia
-
Mitsubishi Estate’s £800m South Bank scheme to deliver 4,000 jobs
-
Watch: driverless electric lorry makes history with world’s first border crossing
-
Bologna sets pace in Europe’s tech race with record investor–founder meetings
-
Family-owned firms resist board diversity gains despite gender quotas, study finds
-
UK start-up founders defy stereotypes with corporate roots and regional spread
-
London Law Expo 2025 to tackle leadership, AI and integrity in the legal sector
-
Sustainability skills surge in European boardrooms, EY finds
-
UK and U.S unveil landmark tech pact with £250bn investment surge
-
International Cyber Expo to return to London with global focus on digital security
-
Cybersecurity talent crunch drives double-digit pay rises as UK firms count cost of breaches
-
Trinity Business School strengthens standing in global MBA rankings
-
UK backs satellite-AI projects to tackle climate and transport challenges