Thousands of people expected to watch the SS United States sink on Wednesday, but the historic ocean liner had other plans.
As of 9:30 p.m., the ship remained above water despite hours of efforts to send it to the bottom of the Gulf and begin its new life as an artificial reef.
“She was designed to be unsinkable, and that fact has definitely given our crews some challenges today,” said Nick Tomecek, a spokesperson for Okaloosa County.
Image captured at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday as SS United States continued to sink off the Florida coast on Nov. 11, 2026.
The vessel, which spent nearly three decades docked at Philadelphia’s Pier 82, appeared determined to resist its final chapter despite years of preparation and the large openings cut into its hull for the deployment.
Okaloosa County is working to sink the ship about 22 miles off the coast of Destin, Florida, where it is expected to become the centerpiece of what officials say will be the world’s largest artificial reef.
The event drew spectators from around the globe, with hundreds of boats gathering offshore to witness the historic moment.
But maritime enthusiasts say the ship’s resilience comes as no surprise.
Its designer, William Francis Gibbs, incorporated safety improvements after studying earlier maritime disasters like the Titanic, creating a vessel famed for its strength and durability.
“William Francis Gibbs said you can’t burn her, you can’t catch her and you can’t sink her,” said Bill Magee of Delran, New Jersey. “And I guess we found that out today, didn’t we?”
Magee traveled from South Jersey to witness the sinking of a ship he had admired for years while it sat along Philadelphia’s waterfront.
As daylight faded, however, he realized he likely would not see the vessel disappear beneath the water.
“A little bit disappointed that she didn’t go down today,” he said.
For supporters of the SS United States Conservancy, the ship’s refusal to sink carried special meaning.
The organization spent years fighting legal and preservation battles to keep the ocean liner afloat.
“It was a solid ship. It still is,” said Warren Jones of the SS United States Conservancy. “It may be a fitting end in a way.”
Officials said the vessel is continuing to descend slowly and is expected to reach the seafloor. Exactly when that will happen, however, remains uncertain.