Historic ocean liner begins voyage to become world’s largest artificial reef

The SS United States is towed down the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey (Matt Rourke/AP)

The historic, ageing ocean liner that a Florida county plans to turn into the world’s largest artificial reef left south Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront on Wednesday, marking the opening segment of its final voyage.

The SS United States, a 1,000-feet vessel that shattered the transatlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, is being towed to Mobile, Alabama, for planned preparation work before officials eventually sink it off Florida’s Gulf Coast.