SS United States Sinking Moved Up to Wednesday

Okaloosa County has moved the sinking of the 990-foot SS United States forward by a day. The ocean liner is now scheduled to go down off the Florida Panhandle on November 11, with the county citing forecast winds and unsafe conditions. Officials have said safety is the reason for the change.

The ship is intended to become the world’s largest artificial reef and a diving attraction. County officials and local businesses expect the project to draw visitors, while officials have also described the reef as a habitat for marine life. Divers may be able to visit the vessel as early as the day after it is sunk.

A planned farewell gathering at the convention venue in Destin has been canceled. A livestream of the sinking is still planned, with the process expected to begin around 1 p.m. Central time.

The vessel was towed from Philadelphia last year and underwent environmental remediation in Mobile, Alabama, before heading to Florida. A preservation group sought to stop the sinking over environmental concerns, but a judge denied its request on Friday. The group could file again; as of November 9, it had not done so.

Launched in 1952, the SS United States set the fastest transatlantic crossing time among ocean liners. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1999.