Officials of Okaloosa County, Fla., said they moved up the planned sinking of the ocean liner SS United States to Wednesday, Nov. 11 after forecasters predicted heavy winds and potentially unsafe weather conditions could arrive later in the week.
The sea floor placement of the 990’x101’ ship, once the pride of the U.S. merchant fleet when it entered service in 1952, is billed by Florida Panhandle tourism and recreation advocates as soon to be the world’s largest artificial reef for fishermen and divers.
The “deployment operations” are planned to begin at 1 p.m. central standard time at the sinking site 22 nautical miles off Destin, Fla. A live video broadcast of the operation will be posted online at thessus.com pre-deployment.
In a social media posting Monday evening, county officials said the sinking “will potentially draw hundreds of vessels. Okaloosa County is working with our safety and security partners for a safe and efficient deployment and bystanders are expected to follow the guidance from the safety boats present at the deployment site.”
Coordinates of the planned deployment location are: 30° 07.148' N, 86° 46.755' W
