Historic US ocean liner sinks near Florida to become world’s largest artificial reef

SS United States, which set transatlantic speed record during maiden voyage in 1952, is sunk off coast of Destin

The historic SS United States has reached the end of its journey at sea, sinking Wednesday off the coast of Destin, Florida, where it will begin a new life underwater as an artificial reef.

The nearly 1,000ft American-made vessel, once the fastest ocean liner in the world, was launched in 1952 and made history by setting a transatlantic speed record during its maiden voyage. The ship carried thousands of passengers across the Atlantic over 17 years of operation before being retired in 1969.