Texas Clipper, 1
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program
The Texas Clipper served as a WWII troop transport ship, a luxury cruise liner, and a maritime training vessel for Texas A&M University. This summer, the Clipper begins a new life as an artificial reef.
An artificial reef is a reef site that’s created from man made materials for the enhancement of marine life.
Dale Shively coordinates the artificial reef program for Texas Parks and Wildlife. Preparing the Clipper for the Ships-to-Reefs program has taken years of hard work.
It’s been at least ten years just to get through all the administrative paperwork and get to the point where the ship could be transferred to us.
The ship will eventually rest on the gulf floor, seventeen miles off the coast of South Padre Island. Since November 2006, the ship’s been in Brownsville for remediation.
As we got into the ship and the cleanup began, we found a couple of items that were unknown. Such as extra PCB type materials that were on the bulkheads behind wallboards and things. So, that has caused a delay in the cleanup process.
Nevertheless, the date for sinking the Clipper is near.
If I had to bet money, I would put my money around the first of August.
That’s our show… with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas…
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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