OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) – Okaloosa County plans to sink a record-setting ocean liner off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, turning the SS United States into the world’s largest artificial reef.
The 990-foot ship will be deployed Thursday, Nov. 12, weather permitting, in the Gulf about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Deployment operations are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Officials say the ship will be towed from Mobile to the Gulf in the coming days.
Okaloosa County will host a public sendoff ceremony celebrating the ship’s history on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 1:30 p.m. at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center.
A live viewing party will be held at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Destin beginning at 9 a.m. on Nov. 12, with a live feed from the deployment site shown on the outdoor screen. The viewing link will be shared on thessus.com before deployment.
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