The SS United States has officially left Philadelphia, moving for the first time since 1996 as she was towed out of her berth on Wednesday afternoon.

What is known as America’s Flagship is on her way to Mobile, Alabama where she will be prepared as the World’s Largest Artificial Reef to be deployed off of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. She left Philadelphia this afternoon after nearly 30 years.

Tracking: Follow her journey to Mobile: https://www.destinfwb.com/explore/eco-tourism/ssus/.

The trip to Mobile is expected to take about two weeks and is assisted by a number of support vessels. Upon arrival, the vessel will continue its rebirth into an artificial reef as contractors remove hazardous material, including nonmetal parts and fuel to ensure this deployment is clean and not harmful to the environment it aims to benefit.

Modifications will also be made to ensure that when the vessel is deployed, it will land upright underwater. The preparation process will take about 12 months.

The exact location along the Gulf Coast for the vessel’s deployment has not been set but it is expected to be about 20 nautical miles south of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area. As the World’s Largest Artificial Reef, the story of the SSUS will be told to thousands of divers from around the world as they explore her unique design and features. She will also benefit her surrounding ecosystem and become home to countless marine species that will thrive from the presence of her structure.