A famous American ocean liner, longer than the Titanic, will be sunk off the coast of Florida

The American ocean liner SS United States, longer than the Titanic and formerly the world's fastest passenger ship, will be sunk on Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida, to become an artificial reef and a destination for diving and fishing.

The ship, over 300 meters long, will reach the seabed approximately 40 kilometers from Destin. Its hull will gradually be filled with water, without the use of explosives. For the operation, the cooling system valves were opened, more than 400 portholes were removed, and holes were drilled in the decks.

The project costs approximately 13.5 million dollars and aims to create a habitat for marine life. SS United States will be sunk at a depth of 55 meters, while the upper deck will remain 18 meters below the water's surface.

The ocean liner made more than 800 transatlantic crossings between 1952 and 1969 and carried figures such as John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Salvador Dali, and Walt Disney. The ship remained anchored in Philadelphia for more than 25 years after it was decommissioned. Activists unsuccessfully tried to turn it into a museum.