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USTS TEXAS
CLIPPER
On Saturday November 17, 2007
the USTS TEXAS CLIPPER sank from sight into the Gulf of Mexico
to become an artificial reef. The original reefing plan called
for the ship to rest upright on the sea floor. The ship,
however, is currently resting fully on her port side.
While this will still make for a successful reef, it makes it
a more challenging dive site than originally planned.
Sitting upright, the topmost
point of the ship would be approximately fifty-feet from the
surface of the water. In the current position, however,
the topmost point is approximately seventy feet from the
surface. Holes
cut into the hull to allow divers access to the interior of
the ship are not accessible from above. The increased depth
and change in access make this a much more complex dive.
Less experienced divers will not be able to fully explore the
reef as initially planned.
Texas Parks and Wildlife is now developing a plan for righting
the ship.
The USTS TEXAS CLIPPER rests
approximately 17 miles off the coast of South Padre Island,
Texas.
Images from the Transport and Reefing
Video Footage from the Reefing
(courtesy of Frederick D. Mann, '68)
First known as the USS Queens (APA 103), she served as an
attack transport. From 1944 to 1946 she carried troops and
treated Iwo Jima casualties. From 1948 to 1959, as the SS
Excambion she carried passengers and cargo between New York
City and Mediterranean ports. From
1965-1996, she proudly served as the USTS Texas Clipper, the
training ship for the
Texas Maritime Academy located at
Texas A&M University at Galveston.
A
delegation of students, Former Students, and Texas A&M
University at Galveston officials attended the reefing.
USTS TEXAS
CLIPPER in the Port of Brownsville - April 1, 2007
For details about the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Artificial Reef program and plans for the TEXAS CLIPPER please
click
here.
USS Queens ~ SS Excambion ~ USTS Texas Clipper
~ Texas Parks and Wildlife
Artificial Reef
If you would like to submit personal photos or stories about
your experiences with USTS Texas Clipper please click
here.
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