Progress Advances on World’s Largest Artificial Reef Project with SS United States
Mobile, Alabama – Progress continues on the ambitious plan to transform the iconic ocean liner SS United States into the world’s largest artificial reef. On Monday, crews at the Port of Mobile reached a major milestone when they successfully removed the vessel’s towering forward smoke stack, marking the next phase in the ship’s carefully planned dismantling.
The forward funnel, which stood nearly 65 feet tall and was once a defining feature of the legendary liner, was detached using specialised heavy-lift equipment. Officials confirmed the structure will not be scrapped but instead preserved in a secure storage facility. The SS United States Conservancy, the nonprofit dedicated to protecting the ship’s legacy, intends to feature the stack in a future land-based museum that will highlight the vessel’s remarkable history.
“The funnels were always among the most recognisable aspects of the SS United States’ profile,” said a representative from the Conservancy. “Preserving them ensures that future generations will be able to appreciate the ship’s iconic design, even as her hull begins a new life beneath the waves.”
Plans call for the aft funnel to be removed in the coming weeks, with similar care taken to safeguard it for museum display. Once both structures are lifted away, crews will continue stripping the vessel of reusable materials and hazardous components in preparation for its eventual scuttling.
The artificial reef project is being overseen with close environmental monitoring, ensuring that all work meets federal standards for marine safety and ecological benefit. Artificial reefs play an important role in ocean health, providing new habitats for marine life, boosting biodiversity, and creating opportunities for recreational diving and fishing.
The SS United States, launched in 1951, was once the fastest passenger liner in the world, capable of crossing the Atlantic in under four days. Retired in 1969, the ship has long been a subject of preservation efforts, but mounting costs and structural challenges eventually led to the decision to repurpose the vessel as an artificial reef.
For Mobile, the dismantling represents not only a logistical achievement but also a piece of maritime history in transition. As the ship’s storied funnels are set aside for posterity, the rest of the SS United States moves steadily toward its next chapter—transforming from a symbol of American engineering triumph into a living monument beneath the sea.
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