1 of 7 | The SS United States is shown at dock in Philadelphia during a ceremony a week ago in which title to the vessel was transferred to Okaloosa County, Fla. The county plans to convert the former cruise liner into the world’s largest artificial reef to benefit its tourism and fishing industries. Photo courtesy of the Okaloosa County Board of Commissioners/ Facebook
Oct. 21 (UPI) — Officials in Florida’s Panhandle predict the transformation of the former glamour cruise liner SS United States into a sunken artificial reef will be a major boost for the region’s eco-tourism industry. After a years-long legal battle over its future at Pier 82 in Philadelphia, where it has been docked since 1996, the ship Saturday was officially signed over a week ago to Okaloosa County, Fla. Advertisement
The county plans to submerge the 990-foot vessel in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Destin as part of its long-standing efforts to boost the popularity of sport diving and fishing around artificial reefs.
Once the project is completed sometime next year, it will be touted by county tourism officials as
Once grand luxury ocean liner to become majestic artificial reef off Florida
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