After months of delays, famed Cold War carrier vessel the S.S. United States has finally started its journey down to Mobile to become the world’s largest artificial reef. The ship moved for the first time in 28 years from Pier 82 to Pier 80 in Philadelphia on Friday as part one of its voyage.

The SS United States, the former luxury ocean liner that was parked in South Philadelphia for almost 30 years, has reached Mobile, Ala., faster than expected and in one piece, proving skeptics wrong.

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 marking the end of the first leg of its journey to becoming the world's largest artificial reef.

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 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,