Okaloosa County has set a date for the deployment of the SS United States, which is currently being turned into the world’s largest artificial reef.

According to a press release, the former ocean liner will sail on its final voyage in the second week of November 2026.

The 1952-built ship will then be deployed about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, as part of an assisted sinking operation.

In an update issued earlier this month, the county said the timeline is dependent on weather and final dates may change. More details on the deployment are set to be released in the coming weeks.

“The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners is working with our safety and security partners for a safe and efficient deployment,” it stated.

“This is an exciting move forward to create a one-of-a-kind resource for the environment and for our tourism industry,” the board continued.

After spending nearly three decades in Philadelphia, the SS United States was towed to Mobile for the project.

The ship arrived in Alabama in early 2025, with Coleen Marine hired to remediate and prepare the former ocean liner for deployment.

As reported by Cruise Industry News, the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners recently secured berthing for the ship in Mobile through late 2026.

Commissioners also voted to increase the budget for the multimillion-dollar project by $1.242 million during a board meeting.

At the time, official county documents stated that the ship was waiting for final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be deployed.

The county also stated that all activities associated with the remediation of the vessel had been completed months before.

Previously owned by the SS United States Conservancy, the 45,000-ton ship was acquired by Okaloosa County in 2024.