Credit: Okaloosa County/Cover Images The historic ocean liner the SS United States embarked on its final journey from Philadelphia to the Gulf of Mexico, where it will be sunk and transformed into the world’s largest artificial reef.

After months of multiple delays, the SS United States finally left its longtime home of Philadelphia just before 1 p.m. ET Wednesday. The storied ocean liner’s next stop is Mobile, Alabama, where it will be prepared for its final mission – to become an artificial reef off the coast of the Florida Panhandle.

Historic Liner The SS United States Embarks On Its Final Voyage. The historic ocean liner the SS United States embarked on its final journey from Philadelphia to the Gulf of Mexico to be transformed into the world's largest artificial reef.