MichaelBaranows
10-31-2006, 10:15 AM
Another article about the Texas Clipper. It is looking like it might really happen.
Texas Clipper set to sink
By: Prashant Krishnan
Issue date: 10/23/06
The Texas Clipper began her life as a World War II troop transport. She's going to end it 17 nautical miles south of Padre Island.
The Clipper will be towed into the Gulf of Mexico and sunk to create an artificial reef.
Texas A&M at Galveston acquired the Clipper in 1965 with the formation of the Texas Maritime Agency. It served as a research vessel and helped train thousands of cadets from A&M at Galveston.
The ship will be readied for towing from Beaumont to Brownsville, where cleanup activities and structural modifications will be done before scuttling the ship in early 2007.
During the cleanup process, all environmental contaminants and buoyant materials will be removed.
The ship will be sunk using controlled flooding, and there will be no use of explosives. Modifications will be made in adherence to the sinking plan, and routes will be provided for divers to safely pass through her decks and bulkheads.
Dale Shively, coordinator of the Artificial Reef Program, said the ship is safe to scuttle.
"The sinking of the ship will have no adverse environmental effects and has been given a FONSI (Found No Significant Impact) by the US Fisheries and Wildlife," Shively said.
Shively said the artificial reef would enhance the area environmentally and commercially.
"The sinking will greatly enhance the marine habitat on the Gulf of Mexico and will create a world-class dive destination along with having a positive economic impact for the communities of South Padre Island," Shively said.
Within a year of the sinking, the vessel will develop a marine habitat of barnacles, corals, sponges, clams, bryozoans and hydroids and will attract fish and mobile invertebrates, Shively said.
The Artificial Reef Act of 1989 directed Texas Parks and Wildlife Division to promote and enhance the artificial reef potential off Texas.
To fulfill this purpose, the department developed the Texas Artificial Reef Plan.
According to the department, the goal of the Texas Artificial Reef Plan is to enhance fishery resources biologically, commercially and recreationally.
Tammy Lobaugh, the director of Physical Plant and Maritime Terminal Operations at A&M at Galveston, said these are exciting times for the proud Aggie training vessel.
"She is recognized around the world as the ship from Texas and her role in history will live on for future generations," she said.
Texas Clipper set to sink
By: Prashant Krishnan
Issue date: 10/23/06
The Texas Clipper began her life as a World War II troop transport. She's going to end it 17 nautical miles south of Padre Island.
The Clipper will be towed into the Gulf of Mexico and sunk to create an artificial reef.
Texas A&M at Galveston acquired the Clipper in 1965 with the formation of the Texas Maritime Agency. It served as a research vessel and helped train thousands of cadets from A&M at Galveston.
The ship will be readied for towing from Beaumont to Brownsville, where cleanup activities and structural modifications will be done before scuttling the ship in early 2007.
During the cleanup process, all environmental contaminants and buoyant materials will be removed.
The ship will be sunk using controlled flooding, and there will be no use of explosives. Modifications will be made in adherence to the sinking plan, and routes will be provided for divers to safely pass through her decks and bulkheads.
Dale Shively, coordinator of the Artificial Reef Program, said the ship is safe to scuttle.
"The sinking of the ship will have no adverse environmental effects and has been given a FONSI (Found No Significant Impact) by the US Fisheries and Wildlife," Shively said.
Shively said the artificial reef would enhance the area environmentally and commercially.
"The sinking will greatly enhance the marine habitat on the Gulf of Mexico and will create a world-class dive destination along with having a positive economic impact for the communities of South Padre Island," Shively said.
Within a year of the sinking, the vessel will develop a marine habitat of barnacles, corals, sponges, clams, bryozoans and hydroids and will attract fish and mobile invertebrates, Shively said.
The Artificial Reef Act of 1989 directed Texas Parks and Wildlife Division to promote and enhance the artificial reef potential off Texas.
To fulfill this purpose, the department developed the Texas Artificial Reef Plan.
According to the department, the goal of the Texas Artificial Reef Plan is to enhance fishery resources biologically, commercially and recreationally.
Tammy Lobaugh, the director of Physical Plant and Maritime Terminal Operations at A&M at Galveston, said these are exciting times for the proud Aggie training vessel.
"She is recognized around the world as the ship from Texas and her role in history will live on for future generations," she said.