SS United States sinks off Florida coast, set to become world’s largest artificial reef

The S.S. United States, once the fastest passenger ship to ever cross the Atlantic Ocean, has sunk off the coast of Destin, Florida, beginning a new chapter as the world’s largest artificial reef.The nearly 1,000-foot luxury liner took more than four hours to sink Wednesday night after crews cut holes into its hull. It now rests about 180 feet below the surface, where officials expect it to attract marine life — and eventually divers and anglers — to the Florida coast.A ship with a storied pastLaunched in 1952, the S.S. United States could reach speeds of 44 miles per hour. Its passenger list over the years included President John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Walt Disney. The ship even carried the Mona Lisa across the Atlantic.As transatlantic air travel became more affordable, the ship’s ocean-crossing days ended in 1969. After changing hands multiple times, it spent roughly 30 years docked in Philadelphia before Okaloosa County purchased the vessel with plans to repurpose it.From