Last ditch lawsuit filed to stop the sinking of speed record vessel

A LAST ditch lawsuit has been filed to stop a historic ocean liner being sunk to the bottom of the ocean.

- BY MICHAEL LEE SIMPSON

The SS United States - broke the transatlantic speed record and once carried movie stars and presidents across the sea.

And plans are in motion to sink her off the coast of Florida and turn the ship into the world’s largest artificial reef.

Now in Mobile, Alabama, crews are removing hazardous materials before its final voyage to allow scuba divers to explore the 302-metre vessel.

But preservationists filed a lawsuit last month to delay the ship's destruction, stating the SS United States is a historic landmark and should be preserved and restored.