Final resting place set for historic SS United States to become artificial reef off Florida – NBC 6 South Florida

Report on the SS United States Artificial Reef Project and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Project Overview and Sustainable Repurposing

The historic ocean liner, the SS United States, is scheduled to be repurposed as the world’s largest artificial reef in early 2026. This initiative represents a significant contribution to sustainable resource management, directly aligning with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by preventing the historically significant vessel from being sent to a scrapyard and instead transforming it into an environmentally and economically valuable asset.

• Vessel: SS United States, a nearly 1,000-foot (305-meter) ocean liner.
• Timeline: Sinking scheduled for early 2026.
• Location: Florida’s Gulf Coast, approximately 22 nautical miles (41 kilometers) southwest of Destin.
• Preparation: The vessel is undergoing an extensive scouring process to remove all chemicals, wiring, plastic, and glass, ensuring its transformation into a reef does not harm the marine environment.

Contribution to SDG 14: Life Below Water

The primary objective of this project is the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. By creating a complex, hard-surface habitat, the reef will directly support marine biodiversity and ecosystem health, a core target of SDG 14: Life Below Water.

1. Habitat Creation: The new artificial reef will provide essential habitat for a diverse range of marine life, fostering biodiversity and supporting fish populations.
2. Ecosystem Enhancement: The project adds to Okaloosa County’s existing network of over 500 artificial reefs, strengthening the regional marine ecosystem.
3. Accessibility: With its top decks approximately 60 feet (18 meters) from the surface, the reef will be accessible to a wide range of marine species and serve as a valuable site for ecological monitoring and research.

Impact on SDG 8 and SDG 11: Economic Growth and Sustainable Communities

The transformation of the SS United States is projected to deliver substantial economic and social benefits, fostering sustainable tourism and strengthening the local community, in line with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

• Sustainable Tourism: The reef is expected to become a major global destination for recreational divers, creating a sustainable tourism economy that will benefit the entire Northwest Florida region.
• Economic Development: The project includes a multi-year marketing campaign to promote the new attraction, stimulating local businesses and creating employment opportunities.
• Cultural Heritage: An onshore museum is planned to promote the ship’s history, preserving its cultural significance while integrating it into a new, sustainable purpose for the community.

Alignment with SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The successful implementation of this large-scale project is a testament to effective collaboration between public and private entities, highlighting the importance of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Key Stakeholders and Contributions:

1. Okaloosa County: Leading the $10.1 million plan to purchase, clean, and sink the ship.
2. Pensacola Tourism Officials: Contributing $1.5 million to the project.
3. Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida: Providing a $500,000 contribution, its largest in 40 years, underscoring the project’s significant conservation value.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   This goal is central to the article, as the primary purpose of sinking the SS United States is to create the “world’s largest artificial reef.” The project aims to “provide essential marine life habitat,” directly contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The article highlights the economic benefits of the project, stating it will “create a tourism economy that will benefit the state and the entire Northwest Florida region.” This focus on sustainable tourism as a driver for economic growth connects directly to SDG 8.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   The project involves safeguarding a “historically significant vessel” from being sent to the “scrapyard.” By repurposing the ship and allocating “$1 million toward an onshore museum to promote the ship’s history,” the initiative works to protect and safeguard cultural heritage, a key aspect of SDG 11.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   The project is a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders. The article mentions an agreement between “Okaloosa County officials,” “Pensacola tourism officials,” and the “Coastal Conservation Association Florida,” who are all contributing financially. This public-private-civil society partnership is a core principle of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts… and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. The creation of an artificial reef is a direct action for marine ecosystem restoration by providing new habitats.
  • Target 14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas… The project contributes to marine conservation by establishing a large, protected structure that will function as a marine habitat, joining Okaloosa County’s “more than 500 artificial reefs.”

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The article explicitly states the project’s goal is to “create a tourism economy” and “elevate our entire region on the global stage” by making it attractive to divers.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The project saves a historic vessel, the SS United States, from destruction and includes plans for a museum to preserve and promote its history.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships… The project is a clear example of such a partnership, with government (Okaloosa County), private/tourism sector (Visit Pensacola), and civil society (Coastal Conservation Association Florida) collaborating and co-financing the initiative.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicators for SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

  • The creation of one large-scale artificial reef (“world’s largest artificial reef”).
  • The total number of artificial reefs in the region (the SS United States will join “more than 500 artificial reefs”).
  • The provision of “essential marine life habitat” (progress could be measured by future biodiversity assessments at the site).

• Indicators for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

  • The development of a “tourism economy” (progress measured by an increase in visitor numbers, particularly divers, and tourism-related revenue).
  • Investment in tourism promotion through a “multi-year marketing campaign.”

• Indicators for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

  • Financial resources allocated to safeguarding cultural heritage (“$1 million toward an onshore museum”).
  • The number of cultural heritage sites safeguarded (one historically significant vessel saved from the scrapyard).

• Indicators for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

  • The amount of financial resources mobilized through the partnership (Pensacola tourism officials contributing “$1.5 million” and Coastal Conservation Association Florida contributing “$500,000”).
  • The existence of a formal multi-stakeholder partnership agreement between public, private, and civil society entities.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: abcnews.go.com