From fastest passenger ship to world's largest artificial reef: Historic US ocean liner sinks off Florida

A historic US ocean liner, once the fastest passenger ship in the world, was deliberately sunk in the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday to create what is expected to become the world's largest artificial reef.The 990-foot SS United States, which is 108 feet longer than the Titanic, was taken underwater in a controlled operation off the coast of Florida.

The $13.5 million project is aimed at turning the former luxury liner into a major destination for divers and fishing enthusiasts, while creating a marine habitat for species such as tuna, marlin and swordfish.The sinking took longer than expected, with much of the ship still visible above the water hours after the operation began.

The vessel finally leaned to one side and submerged at around 9 pm local time.“She is an amazing lady who will not lay down without a fight,” Coleen O’Malley, president of Coleen Marine, the company overseeing the sinking, said before the ship disappeared beneath the surface, as quoted by Associated Press.