what time are they sinking the ss united states

Deployment operations to sink the SS United States officially began at 1:40 p.m. CST (2:40 p.m. EST) on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Although the process was initially scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. CST, brief delays pushed back the pumping of water, with all valves confirmed open shortly before 5:00 p.m. EST. [1, 2]

Timeline of the Sinking Process

*

• Date Change: Okaloosa County officials moved the deployment up from November 12 to Wednesday, November 11 due to forecasts of heavy winds and unsafe marine conditions.
• Pumping Begins: Crews began pumping water into the 990-foot ocean liner around 1:40 p.m. CST (2:40 p.m. EST). [2, 4]
• Valves Opened: After brief operational delays, officials confirmed shortly before 5:00 p.m. EST that all valves were open to flood the hull.
• Submersion Duration: While early estimates projected a 45-minute descent, officials noted the controlled flooding would take several hours as the massive vessel slowly fills and settles to the Gulf floor. [2, 5]

*

Location and Next Steps

*

• Deployment Site: The ship is being sunk roughly 20 to 25 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where it will rest about 180 feet below the surface.
• Reef Access: Once submerged, the liner will become the world’s largest artificial reef, with divers expected to begin accessing the wreck at dawn on Thursday, November 12.
• Live Coverage: You can follow the ongoing deployment and view footage on the official SS United States deployment website or via live coverage from. [1, 2, 3, 4]

*