Legal Challenge Aims to Halt Sinking of Historic Ocean Liner

A coalition of preservationists has turned to federal court in an effort to block the planned sinking of the historic ocean liner SS United States off the Florida Gulf Coast. The SS United States Preservation Foundation filed a lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida against Okaloosa County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other federal officials. The group is seeking an emergency temporary restraining order to halt the imminent deployment of the ship.

Built in 1952, the vessel earned renown as the fastest and one of the most prestigious ocean liners in the world. After being withdrawn from service in 1969, the ship spent decades docked and facing the threat of being scrapped. In 2024, Okaloosa County purchased the hull with the objective of sinking it to create the world's largest purpose-built artificial reef, positioned about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Prior to the legal action, the ship had been docked in Mobile, Alabama, since early 2025, drawing significant public attention and tourism.

The newly filed lawsuit contends that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the artificial reef project without adequately examining potential environmental risks or complying fully with historic preservation regulations. The complaint alleges that the Corps failed to prepare an environmental impact statement and did not complete a thorough historic preservation review before allowing dismantling work to begin. Preservationists argue that proceeding with an irreversible sinking before addressing these concerns sets a troubling precedent.

Central to the foundation's environmental concerns is the presence of zinc chromate paint remaining on the ship. The lawsuit cites expert assertions that the paint contains hexavalent chromium, which is described as extremely toxic to aquatic organisms, raising questions about potential risks to the marine environment and Gulf seafood consumption. Furthermore, the complaint points out that antifouling coatings on sunken vessels can pose acute and chronic toxicity risks if reactivated by physical disturbance or biological degradation.

Defendants and local officials have pushed back against the allegations. Okaloosa County has consistently maintained that all state and federal guidelines were strictly followed during the preparation of the vessel in Mobile. County representatives noted that fuel, hazardous materials, flaking exterior paint, and PCB-containing items were successfully removed. Officials argued that federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for artificial reefs do not require the stripping of intact paint coatings, treating materials like zinc chromate similarly to lead-based paint and asbestos when intact.

Despite the last-minute legal challenge, county officials indicated that plans remain on schedule to tow the 990-foot hull out of Mobile and deploy it onto the Gulf seafloor. If completed without judicial interruption, the deployment will surpass the USS Oriskany to become the largest purpose-sunk artificial reef in the world, with local authorities preparing for public viewing events and a live stream of the sinking.

Meanwhile, artificial reef development continues in other coastal regions. The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries recently scheduled a public information meeting to discuss a proposed 125-acre estuarine artificial reef in the Albemarle Sound, which would be constructed using debris from the Alligator River Bridge to support local fish populations. Additionally, the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Artificial Reef Program received a donated former research vessel, the R/V Cape Hatteras, which crews are preparing in South Carolina for eventual deployment off Masonboro Inlet in the spring of 2027.

In the Caribbean, marine conservation efforts have taken artistic forms as well. Sculptures designed to function as artificial reefs have been submerged, including a nearly seven-meter-long spotted eagle ray sculpture created by American artist Drew Shook. Placed off Scrub Island in the British Virgin Islands by the organization Beyond the Reef, the concrete and wire mesh structure aims to promote coral growth and provide marine habitats over time.