Historic ocean liner off Florida's Gulf Coast will soon be the world's largest artificial reef

A historic ocean liner will become the world's largest artificial reef once it reaches its final resting place off Florida's Gulf Coast. Competing diving businesses are vying for the massive ship to be scuttled closer to them, while one group is suing to stop the ship from being sunk at all.

- DAVID FISCHER Associated Press

The SS United States, a nearly 1,000-foot (305-meter) vessel that shattered the trans-Atlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, is going through a monthslong scouring at the Port of Mobile in Alabama.

Workers will empty and clean all 120 fuel tanks, as well as remove chemicals, wiring, plastic, and glass.

"There's a lot of nasties on vessels that were built back in the '50s," Okaloosa County Coastal Resource Manager Alex Fogg said. "Basically, when it's ready to be deployed, it will be a steel and aluminum structure."

The SS United States is set to join Okaloosa County's more than 500 artificial reefs, which include a dozen smaller ship wrecks. Officials hope to draw tourists and generate millions of dollars annually for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels, as well as provide habitat for critical fish species and other sea life.