Texas Clipper

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title: "Texas Clipper" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["transports-of-the-united-states-navy", "ships-built-in-sparrows-point,-maryland", "ships-of-american-export-isbrandtsen-lines", "1944-ships", "ships-sunk-as-artificial-reefs"] description: "Merchant marine training vessel with the Texas Maritime Academy" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Clipper" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Merchant marine training vessel with the Texas Maritime Academy ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox ship"]

Field	Value
section1	{{Infobox ship/image
image	69614083 9ring-O-1.jpg
image_caption	Texas Clipper, Texas A&M Maritime Academy, ca. June 1968
section2	{{Infobox ship/career
country	United States
flag
name	USTS Texas Clipper
namesake	A clipper ship
builder	Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Maryland 1944
christened
renamed	Excambion, USTS Texas Clipper
laid_down	2 March 1944
launched	12 September 1944
acquired	1965
identification
fate	Sunk as an artificial reef off Texas, 17 November 2007
notes	Ship ran on Bunker C Fuel Oil and consumed approximately 0.8 barrels per mile. It has a Contra-Guide rudder
section3	{{Infobox ship/characteristics
displacement	7,627 tons (light), 14,900 tons. (fully loaded)
tonnage	9644 Gross Tons
length	473 ft 1 in (144.19 meters)
beam	66 ft 5.5 inches (20.26 meters)
draft	25 ft (7,62 meters)
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
speed	17.6 knots
range	11,812 NM w/ 25% reserve
complement	256 persons
notes	MCV Hull No. 1677, hull type C3-S-A3
::

|section1={{Infobox ship/image | image = 69614083 9ring-O-1.jpg | image_caption = Texas Clipper, Texas A&M Maritime Academy, ca. June 1968

|section2={{Infobox ship/career | hide_header = | country = United States | flag = | name = USTS Texas Clipper | namesake = A clipper ship | yard_number = | ordered = | sponsor = | builder = Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard, Maryland 1944 | christened = | renamed = Excambion, USTS Texas Clipper | laid_down = 2 March 1944 | launched = 12 September 1944 | acquired = 1965 | commissioned = | decommissioned = | reclassified = | in_service = | out_of_service = | struck = | reinstated = | identification = | honours = | fate = Sunk as an artificial reef off Texas, 17 November 2007 | notes = Ship ran on Bunker C Fuel Oil and consumed approximately 0.8 barrels per mile. It has a Contra-Guide rudder

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = | class = | displacement = 7,627 tons (light), 14,900 tons. (fully loaded) | tonnage = 9644 Gross Tons | length = 473 ft 1 in (144.19 meters) | beam = 66 ft 5.5 inches (20.26 meters) | draught = | draft = 25 ft (7,62 meters) | 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 | speed = 17.6 knots | range = 11,812 NM w/ 25% reserve | capacity = | complement = 256 persons | boats = | sensors = | EW = | armament = | armour = | armor = | aircraft = | 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. 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.

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, 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.

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 |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

Artificial reef

While being prepared from November 2006 to early November 2007 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 ::data[format=table]

::

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 473 ft 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 570 ft 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 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. The sinking of the ship cost the state about .

The Texas Clipper (midship) rests at Lat. 26° 11' 24.695"N Lon. 96° 51' 40.238"W.

References

References

1. "USTS Texas Clipper (1965 - 1996)". Texas Parks & Wildlife.
2. (August 31, 2006). "National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory". U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration.
3. (2007-11-14). "Texas Clipper Artificial Reef Sinking Postponed". Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept..
4. (16 November 2017). "Texas Clipper, An Ocean Oasis (10 Years In)". [[Texas Parks and Wildlife Department]].
5. (2012). "Mafia Summit". Thomas Dunne Books.
6. "Texas Clipper".
7. "Texas Clipper Reef Boundary".

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