The colossal SS United States was the fastest cruise ship to cross the Atlantic
The SS United States, the largest ocean liner ever built in the United States and the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean in any direction, will be sunk off the US Gulf Coast — and turned into the largest artificial reef in history.
To fast destruction of coral reefs around the world has been one of the most tragic and frightening testaments to the horrors of climate change.
As ihuman interactions with reefsincluding pollution, overfishing and ocean acidification, have destroyed even 2/3 of historic reef coverage of the planet, putting countless species at risk of extinction.
However, human activities also have the potential to do the opposite: create new reef areas.
The construction of artificial reef ecosystems brings hope for the future, and now takes a new step, with the transformation of the SS United States, the largest ocean liner ever built in the United States and the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean in any direction, on the largest artificial reef in historyoff the US Gulf Coast.
In truth, humans have been creating artificial reefs for a long time — even though, initially, involuntarily. Throughout history, shipwrecks that have sunk to the seabed have become structures around which new coral reefs form.
When it became evident the fragile state of natural reefspeople began to replicate this process on purpose, sinking decommissioned ships in areas where marine life could colonize them.
The SS United States will be the largest ship to have this fatewhen it is sunk. The colossal ship measures 302 meters long and 31 meters in the widest part, with 12 decks — is even bigger than the RMS Titanic.
The former cruise ship will offer a massive structure for future coral growth, which seems a fitting outcome for a ship whose life was marked by record-breaking feats.
It was a technical marvel
The SS United States is one of the greatest achievements of naval engineering ever. It was built between 1950 and 1952 and remains, to this day, the largest passenger ship ever built in the United States.
One would expect that the impressive size of the SS United States would make it slow, but the truth couldn’t be further away. It was capable of reaching 71 km/h — an absolutely stunning speed for a liner.
On its maiden voyage in 1952, the colossal ship set the world record. fastest transatlantic crossing in historyin just three and a half days. That record remains to this day.
The SS United States managed exceed speed expectations to its size because its structure was designed lightweight and flexible aluminuml. This also allowed it to be built without expansion jointswhich means that if it collided with an iceberg like the Titanic, the hull would remain intact.
It was also built to be fireproof. The only wooden elements on board were the kitchen cutting boards and a piano made from mahogany treated to resist flames.
O SS United States era faster and more robust than any other passenger ship ever built, and this is due to its secret objective.
Built during the Cold War, the ship was discreetly subsidized by the US government, but never participated in war operations. In fact, he was in service for just over a decade.
A second life underwater
O SS United States foi Abruptly withdrawn from service in 1969. More and more passengers opted for aviation, and the ship was extremely expensive to operate.
However, the government did not have a reform plan prepared, so the SS United States passed through several owners until it ended up moored at a pier in Philadelphia, where it remained between 1996 and 2024, when it was acquired by the county of Okaloosa, Florida, which will oversee its sinking.
The waters off the Gulf Coast offer the ideal climate for coral reefsand there are already several artificial reefs in the region.
Before the SS United States can begin its second life as an artificial reef, it is necessary carry out preparatory work to ensure environmental safety. Earlier this year, the ship was transferred to Mobile, Alabama, for a deep cleaning, which removed all traces of dangerous pollutants such as plastics, glass and chemicals.
The SS United States is expected to be ready soon; at that point, it will be towed from Mobile to a point 32 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola and sunk.
Once at the bottom of the sea, you will be at a depth of 55 meters, but the upper decks will be just about 18 meters from the surface.
Tourism entities have already expressed interest in transforming the artificial reef into a diving destination, but this could bring more environmental impacts — precisely those that these projects seek to avoid.
