Though some were skeptical the vessel could make it through such a journey, it faced 14-foot waves and high winds without much trouble.

After being docked in Philadelphia for nearly three decades, the SS United States -- once the world's fastest ocean liner -- has arrived in Mobile, Al., ahead of schedule to be prepared to be turned into an artificial reef.

The historic SS United States is seen off the coast of Palm Beach on Feb. 26, 2025 on its way to Mobile, Alabama to be cleaned before being sunk to create an artificial reef.

The SS United States is towed to Alabama and draws onlookers to the East End of Dauphin Island on Monday, March 3, 2025. The historic ocean-liner is being towed to Mobile where it will be prepared for submersion as the world's largest artificial reef off the Florida Gulf Coast near Destin-Fort Walton. John Sharp

The SS United States is marking the end of the first leg of its journey to becoming the world's largest artificial reef.

The SS United States, a 1,000-foot (305-meter) trans-Atlantic liner renowned for its record-breaking speed and advanced engineering, has commenced the first stage of its final mission. Originally launched in 1952,

The SS United States is about 1,800 nautical miles closer to its final destination. It took 12 days to move the massive ocean liner from its South Philadelphia mooring in the Delaware River to the port of Mobile,

The Newport News-built SS United States has completed the first leg of its final voyage. Plans are in place to turn it into the world's largest artificial reef.