Okaloosa County said that its project to turn the SS United States into the world’s largest artificial reef aims to preserve the history of the former ocean liner.

“There are definitely some very passionate people that are involved with preservation. We are one of those groups,” the county said in a social media update.

Okaloosa added that this effort to preserve history was behind the decision to reef the ship instead of “allowing it to be scrapped.”

The county noted that it is currently working with numerous media companies to create documentaries about the history of the ship and its deployment as the world’s largest artificial reef.

According to the update, the project also includes support for a proposed land-based museum dedicated to the 1952-built ship.

In addition to removing certain parts of the vessel for exhibition, Okaloosa is also making a financial contribution to the museum, which is being developed by the SS United States Conservancy.

Out of service since 1969, the SS United States was acquired by the county in late 2024, marking the start of its reefing project.

At the time, the vessel was facing an eviction notice from the pier in Philadelphia where it spent nearly three decades docked.

The 53,000-ton ship was later towed to the port of Mobile, where it underwent a remediation process ahead of being deployed.

According to Okaloosa County, the SS United States is now ready to embark on its final voyage ahead of being sunk in an assisted operation.

The ship’s final resting site will be located 22 miles south of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, where it is expected to become a tourist attraction and marine wildlife hotspot.

Okaloosa said that it is currently awaiting formal approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) before deploying the ship.