Historic ocean liner could soon become world’s largest artificial reef

The SS United States moored on the Delaware River in Philadelphia (Matt Rourke/AP)

The conservancy that oversees a famous but ageing ocean liner and its landlord have resolved a years-old rent dispute that will clear the way for a Florida county to turn the historic ship into the world’s largest artificial reef.

A federal judge had ruled in June that the SS United States Conservancy had until September 12 to present plans to move the ship, a 1,000-foot ocean liner that still holds the transatlantic speed record it set more than 70 years ago.