Texas Clipper
{{Short description|Merchant marine training vessel with the Texas Maritime Academy}}
{{For|other ships formerly named Excambion|USS John Penn (APA-23)}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:69614083 9ring-O-1.jpg | Ship caption = Texas Clipper, Texas A&M Maritime Academy, ca. June 1968 }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = United States | Ship flag = {{USN flag|1945}} | Ship name = USTS Texas Clipper | Ship namesake = A clipper ship | Ship yard number = | Ship ordered = | Ship sponsor = | Ship builder = Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Maryland 1944 | Ship christened = {{USS|Queens|APA-103}} | Ship renamed = Excambion, USTS Texas Clipper | Ship laid down = 2 March 1944 | Ship launched = 12 September 1944 | Ship acquired = 1965 | Ship commissioned = | Ship decommissioned = | Ship reclassified = | Ship in service = | Ship out of service = | Ship struck = | Ship reinstated = | Ship identification = {{IMO Number|5110616}} | Ship honours = | Ship fate = Sunk as an artificial reef off Texas, 17 November 2007 | Ship notes = Ship ran on Bunker C Fuel Oil and consumed approximately 0.8 barrels per mile. It has a Contra-Guide rudder }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = | Ship displacement = 7,627 tons (light), 14,900 tons. (fully loaded) | Ship tonnage = 9644 Gross Tons | Ship length = 473 ft 1 in | Ship beam = 66 ft 5.5 inches (20.26 meters) | Ship draught = | Ship draft = 25 ft | Ship propulsion = Bethlehem geared turbine drive, 2 × Babcock & Wilcox 500 psi, 750 degF header-type boilers, single 4 blade 19' x 20' propeller, designed shaft horsepower 8,000 at 96 rpm | Ship speed = 17.6 knots | Ship range = 11,812 NM w/ 25% reserve | Ship capacity = | Ship complement = 256 persons | Ship boats = | Ship sensors = | Ship EW = | Ship armament = | Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = | Ship notes = MCV Hull No. 1677, hull type C3-S-A3 }} |
USTS Texas Clipper, a 473 foot long ship, served as a merchant marine training vessel with the Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston for 30 years beginning in 1965. Her name is reflective of clipper ships of old, both designed with a characteristic rounded stern.
Prior to her service as a training vessel, Texas Clipper had served in World War II as an attack transport vessel named USS Queens. Following the war, in 1948, Queens was converted into the trans-atlantic ocean-liner SS Excambion, a member of the quartet of ships referred to as the post-war "4 Aces" for American Export Lines. Excambion carried passengers and cargo on a regular sailing route from New York to various Mediterranean ports.
Following service as a training ship, the Texas Clipper I was moored at the Beaumont Reserve Fleet from 1996–2006.{{cite web|title=USTS Texas Clipper (1965 - 1996)|url=http://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/USTSTXClipperbrochure1.pdf|publisher=Texas Parks & Wildlife|accessdate=September 26, 2015}}{{cite web|title=National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory|url=http://www.marad.dot.gov/wp-content/uploads/pdf/i060831.pdf|publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration|accessdate=September 26, 2015|date=August 31, 2006}} In 2006, Texas Clipper was transferred to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Artificial Reef Program to be turned into an artificial reef. This transfer allowed the ship to not be scrapped.
History
The Texas Clipper was initially used by the US military in World War II as a troop transport vessel USS Queens. During the 1950s, the ship was converted to a commercial ocean liner carrying passengers, principally across the Atlantic, but also with trips to Pacific.{{rp|8:30}} The ship subsequently became a training vessel for maritime cadets.{{cite web |url= http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20071114b |title= Texas Clipper Artificial Reef Sinking Postponed |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. |date= 2007-11-14 |accessdate= 2008-10-17 }}{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmGBWi9CohM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/AmGBWi9CohM |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=Texas Clipper, An Ocean Oasis (10 Years In) |publisher=Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |via=YouTube |date=16 November 2017 |access-date=30 March 2019}}{{cbignore}}
Texas Clipper was launched in September 1944, and used in the latter stages of World War II as an attack transport vessel named USS Queens.
In 1948, Queens was converted into the trans-atlantic ocean-liner SS Excambion,
{{cite web |url= http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/didyouknow/txclipper.phtml |title= The USTS Texas Clipper: A New Artificial Reef in the Gulf of Mexico |accessdate= 2012-12-14 |author= Dale Shively |publisher= Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121028011945/http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/didyouknow/txclipper.phtml |archive-date= 2012-10-28 |url-status= dead }}
a member of the quartet of ships referred to as "4 Aces" operated by American Export Lines. Excambion carried passengers and cargo on a regular sailing route from New York to various Mediterranean ports.
SS Excambion was the site of a major scandal in 1957 in Marseille when the ship was found to be carrying 20 kg of heroin for the French Connection.{{cite book |last1=Reavill |first1=Gil |title=Mafia Summit |date=2012 |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books}}
Before the demolition process began in the 2000s to prepare the ship for sinking as an artificial reef, a large 11-panel mural by Saul Steinberg was discovered inside the ship. Created for the ship's conversion from attack transport USS Queens to cargo liner Excambion, it was serendipitously discovered beneath wallpaper above the bar in the ship's aft lounge.
Saul Steinberg, a cartoonist and illustrator, well known for his many "New Yorker" magazine cover drawings, created the large murals for Texas Clipper and the other "4 Aces" ships.{{cite journal
| last = American Export Lines
| title = Mediterranean Passenger Service by the New '4 Aces' (Brochure)
| journal = Sailings and Rates
| volume = 4
| pages = 40
| date = May 1950
}} Texas Clipper was the subject of a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department [https://web.archive.org/web/20080622110549/http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/videos/vnr/ video] that provided an account of the mural's discovery prior to sinking the ship as an artificial reef off Brownsville, Texas. When asked to estimate the value of unusually large (22 ft.) mural, — according to Dale Shively, Artificial Reef Coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife — the Steinberg Foundation responded, "not millions of dollars, but it's probably at least six figures".{{cite video
|people = Dale Shivley
|title = The Texas Clipper
|medium = News video
|publisher = Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
|url = http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/videos/vnr/
|location = Brownsville, Texas
|accessdate = 2008-06-20
|date = 2007
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080622110549/http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/videos/vnr/
|archive-date = 2008-06-22
}} The mural was removed for restoration and preservation.
Artificial reef
While being prepared from November 2006 to early November 2007 {{cite web |last1=Curley |first1=Stephen |title=Texas Clipper |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qtt04 |website=Texas State Historical Association |accessdate=22 January 2020}} to become an artificial reef, Texas Clipper was docked at the Port of Brownsville for cleaning of hazardous materials, and modifications for marine life and diver safety.{{cite episode
| title = Sinking A Ship
| url = http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=detail&episodeId=225307
| series = Mega Movers
| series-link = Mega Movers
| credits = 44 Blue Productions
| network = The History Channel
| minutes = 60
}} The conversion, cleanup and sinking cost over 4 million dollars. The Texas Clipper was sunk on November 17, 2007, approximately {{convert|17|nmi|km|0}} northeast of South Padre Island, TX. It was placed in {{convert|132|ft|m|0}} of water. The top of the ship has reached depths as shallow as {{convert|50|ft|m|0}}.
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|{{Infobox mapframe|wikidata=yes|id=Q7873189|coord|26.190193 |
| 96.861177|frame-width=400|frame-height=300|zoom=8}} |
The TPWD used careful consideration during the conversion of the ship into an artificial reef to preserve the ship's appearance. All masts and kingposts that were cut to meet Coast Guard clearance requirements being secured to the deck of the ship to add interest for divers and increase complexity for wildlife.
At {{convert|473|ft|m|0}} in length, Texas Clipper was one of the largest vessels (in 2006) serving as an artificial reef off Texas. The SS V. A. Fogg, which sank during a mishap off Freeport, Texas, was {{convert|570|ft|m|0}} in length. Twelve other World War II era ships are also part of the TPWD Artificial Reef Program.
Unfortunately, when it hit the ocean floor{{citation needed|reason=some sources say it capsized sideways, and then maintained that orientation on the way down|date=April 2019}} the vessel tipped onto its side, blocking access to its interior for fish and divers. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department spokesman Aaron Reed said it was unclear what caused the ship to tip. He said the state might ask the company that prepared the ship for its sinking to correct its position.{{update after|2013}} The sinking of the ship cost the state about {{USD|4 million}}.
The Texas Clipper (midship) rests at Lat. 26° 11' 24.695"N Lon. 96° 51' 40.238"W.{{cite web |title=Texas Clipper Reef Boundary |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/water/habitats/artificial_reef/images/survey-map.pdf |website=Texas Parks & Wildlife}}
See also
- SS Stevens, the former SS Exochorda and sister ship to Texas Clipper
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070428062110/http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/artificial_reef/texas_clipper.phtml Texas Clipper project page], Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife
- [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312072,00.html FOXNews Article on sinking], Old Texas A&M Ship Becomes Artificial Reef
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110728090110/http://www.texasclipper.org/news.html USTS Texas Clipper Diving Info, History and Photos]
{{United States Training Ships}}
{{Recreational dive sites|wresit}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Transports of the United States Navy
Category:Ships built in Sparrows Point, Maryland