A historic ocean liner is a step closer to becoming the world’s largest artificial reef

DESTIN, Fla. (AP) – A historic ocean liner is a step closer to becoming the world's largest artificial reef.

Key points

• The almost 1, 000-foot (305-meter) vessel shattered the trans-Atlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952.
• Authorities in Florida's Okaloosa County expect to sink the SS United States off the Gulf Coast during the second week of November.
• The ship will be sunk regarding 22 nautical miles (41 kilometers) southwest of Destin.
• "This is an exciting move forward to create a one-of-a-kind resource for the environment and for our tourism industry, " county authorities wrote in a news release.

Authorities in Florida's Okaloosa County expect to sink the SS United States off the Gulf Coast during the second week of November. The exact dates could change since of weather.

For context, the ship will be sunk regarding 22 nautical miles (41 kilometers) southwest of Destin.

In practice, the almost 1, 000-foot (305-meter) vessel shattered the trans-Atlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952. Preservation groups tried to save the ship but were hindered by high costs.

Supporters hope that sinking the ship will create it a barnacle-encrusted star among more than 500 artificial reefs and a signature diving attraction, helping to generate millions of dollars a year in local tourism spending for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels.

For now, a historic ocean liner is a step closer to becoming the world's remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.