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 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.

The historic, aging ocean liner that a Florida county plans to turn into the world’s largest artificial reef has completed the first leg of its final voyage.

The troubled waters caused the ocean liner to turn sideways off the coast of Virginia Beach. They got it righted and it's been smooth sailing since. It's expected to reach the Florida coast by Monday night. Weather permitting, the ship could make its way from Cape Canaveral to Key West by Wednesday.

The ship is being towed to Mobile, Alabama, to be prepared for sinking as the world's largest artificial reef.

The SS United States is on its final journey, destined to become the world's largest artificial reef off the Florida Gulf coast.

The SS United States has completed its voyage from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama, where it will be prepped to become part of the world's largest artificial reef.

The vessel, which spent the last eleven days being tugged from Philadelphia, will undergo extensive preparations before its deployment in the Gulf of Mexico.