The historic ocean liner, destined to become the world’s largest artificial reef, has completed the first segment of its final voyage.

The SS United States, a 1,000-foot (305-meter) vessel that broke the trans-Atlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, arrived early Monday in Mobile, Alabama, nearly two weeks after leaving south Philadelphia’s Delaware River.

The ship is scheduled to reach a repair facility in Mobile later on Monday. Crews will spend approximately six months cleaning and preparing the ship before it is ultimately sunk off Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The 1,800-mile (2,897-kilometer) journey south began on February 19, following the resolution of a years-old rent dispute between the ship’s overseeing conservancy and its landlord. Previous plans to move the vessel in November were delayed by U.S. Coast Guard concerns regarding the ship’s stability for the trip.

Officials in Okaloosa County, on Florida’s Panhandle, hope the ship will become a unique feature among the county’s more than 500 artificial reefs. It is expected to draw significant tourism revenue for scuba shops, charter fishing boats, and hotels, potentially generating millions of dollars annually.

The deal to acquire the ship could eventually exceed $10 million, according to officials.

Once a symbol of American engineering, the SS United States also served as a military vessel capable of transporting thousands of troops. During its maiden voyage, it set the trans-Atlantic speed record in both directions, reaching an average speed of 36 knots, or just over 41 mph (66 kph). The ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean in three days, 10 hours, and 40 minutes, beating the RMS Queen Mary’s record by 10 hours. To this day, the SS United States holds the trans-Atlantic speed record for an ocean liner.

In 1969, the SS United States became a reserve ship and subsequently passed through various private owners who aimed to redevelop it. However, their plans were either too costly or poorly timed, leaving the vessel to loom for years on south Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront.

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