U.S. Department of Transportation

Office of Public Affairs

Washington, D.C.

www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm

 

News

 

MARAD 12-06

Contact: Shannon Russell

Friday, November 03, 2006

Tel.: (202) 366-5807

 

New Life for an Old Ship:  Former Training Ship to Become Artificial Reef

 

A Maritime Administration ship, the Texas Clipper, began its journey to becoming an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico where it will boost the underwater diving economy and benefit marine life, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced today.

 

The ship was towed today from the Beaumont Reserve Fleet and is headed for Brownsville where it will be cleaned and then sunk 17 miles off the Texas coastline in 134 feet of water on the sandy floor of the Gulf of Mexico.

 

"The Texas Clipper has had several useful lives,” said Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton, noting that the vessel had been built as a troop transport ship, and used for commercial cruises and for training by Texas A&M University before entering MARAD's Beaumont Reserve Fleet.  "Its new life as an artificial reef will help the environment by creating new marine life, and benefit the local economy by enhancing tourism."   

 

The Texas Clipper is now part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission's "Ships to Reefs" program.  According to state officials, creation of the new artificial reef will serve to enhance Gulf Coast fishery resources, and eventually the make waters above and around the submerged ship a destination for divers and fishermen.

 

Texas's "Ships to Reefs" program began in the mid-1970s with a dozen World War II-era "Liberty" ships sunk at six sites along the coast.  Large ships have since been generally unavailable for reefing.  But recently, the U.S. Navy, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been working with Texas officials to locate appropriate vessels for the program.

 

            The Maritime Administration operates three National Defense Reserve Fleet sitessites in the James River in Virginia, at Suisun Bay in California, and in Beaumont.  When the ships become obsolete, the Maritime Administration arranges for their responsible disposition. 

 

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