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points by verdverm 4 days ago | 0 comments

> The SS United States, once the fastest passenger liner in the world, is scheduled to be sunk in the Gulf of Mexico in November, creating what will be the world’s largest artificial reef.

This sentence may anger someone into causing a controversy... hope this doesn't hit his favorite channels.

[–] input_sh 2 days ago

It's a British magazine, they (like the rest of the world) don't really have a reason to care about his Executive Orders.

[–] mahboi 2 days ago

Without judging, this is the first I've heard of deliberately sinking ships to create artificial reefs.

[–] consumer451 2 days ago

This is somewhat common. Once cleaned up, they provide refuge for sea life, and increased economic activity for nearby communities via fishing and diving.

The program in the Florida Keys is huge.

https://gis.myfwc.com/boating_guides/florida_keys/pages/art_...

[–] smallerfish 2 days ago

Your mind may be blown by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redbird_Reef

[–] thaumasiotes 2 days ago

Yeah, that was pretty interesting.

> From 2001 to 2008, within the vicinity of the reef, the amount of marine food per square foot has increased 400 times.

> The site has become so popular that fishermen steal from each other, and other states apply for the next subway cars to be dumped in their waters.

I guess the biggest problem in the ocean is the inability to stay in place. There was an interesting discussion of something similar on Twitter a couple years ago: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1760058156632142058.html

> Hyenas can strip a dead elephant clean in less than 48 hours.

> But in the ocean, whale carcasses drift around for months before they eventually sink.

> Land animals have gravity privilege. Any random stray dog can tear into a dead cow, even if the cow is a lot larger.

> But when bunch of sharks come up on the floating whale carcass, it's essentially a game of bobbing for pumpkins... it's not really possible to hold on to it or tear it open.

[–] mahboi 2 days ago

That is really cool, thanks

[–] Terr_ 4 days ago

Regardless of the location, there's editorial cartoon/headline grist in it, e.g.: "As Trump does $VERB this weekend, the United States will sink to its doom."

I would not be surprised if Ron DeSantis (Florida governor, Republican) somehow abuses his position to force a rename of the ship at the last moment, purely to avoid snarky headlines.

[–] pfdietz 2 days ago

It's being sunk 20 miles offshore, which is out of Florida control (that extends only nine miles there; which is kind of odd since for most US states the control only extends three miles).

[–] Terr_ 2 days ago

It's not a matter of geographic jurisdiction, it's a matter of simple ownership.

The vessel is being being purchased by Okaloosa County, Florida. There are many ways for the state government to lean on a county to file some paperwork.

[–] verdverm 2 days ago

Seems we have angered his supporters given how the voting has changed on this since the day ago we made these comments. Their voting is not going to stop me from saying it like it is about the worst president in US history.

Kind of frustrating that our comment times get changed when a story is given a second chance (not sure why this story should qualify for a second chance on HN...) and misrepresent when we made these comments

[–] ihaveajob 2 days ago

Too on the nose.

[–] mrlonglong 2 days ago

Rename it USS Trump for the lulz.

[–] shagie 2 days ago

The SS United States was a beautiful ship from an era past that was the crown jewel of the USA merchant marine that in part represented the technology contests of civilian ships after WWII.

Trump is not deserving of its name.

From two years ago: What's Going on With Shipping? SS United States - Fastest Cruise Liner and Flagship of US Merchant Marine - To Be Sunk! https://youtu.be/XFIPAJEl1TE

[–] mrlonglong 1 day ago

Not the ship, it's more the thought that Trump is captaining a sinking ship of State.