Texas Clipper Overview and Importance

The Texas Clipper was a passenger ferry that operated from 1961 to 1980. It was built in 1961 by the American Ship Building Company in Lorain, Ohio.

The ferry was 340 feet long and had a gross tonnage of 3,000 tons. It was designed to carry 1,500 passengers and 100 vehicles.

The Texas Clipper played a crucial role in the transportation of people and goods between Galveston and Port Aransas, serving as a vital link between the two cities.

The Texas Clipper is a 473 foot ship that 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.

It was originally built as the USS Queens, an attack transport vessel, in 1944. The USS Queens was converted into the trans-atlantic ocean-liner SS Excambion in 1948, carrying passengers and cargo on a regular sailing route from New York to various Mediterranean ports.

The Texas Clipper was renamed from Excambion and had a significant career before becoming a training vessel. It was acquired by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 2006 to be turned into an artificial reef, allowing it to be preserved rather than scrapped.

Here are some key facts about the Texas Clipper's dimensions:

The Texas Clipper was designed for speed, with a propulsion system that included a Bethlehem geared turbine drive and two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 17 knots.

The Texas Clipper is a significant vessel with a rich history. It served as a merchant marine training vessel with the Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University at Galveston for 30 years, from 1965.

The ship's name is reflective of clipper ships of old, both designed with a characteristic rounded stern. This design feature is a nod to the ship's heritage.

The Texas Clipper was originally named USS Queens, serving as an attack transport vessel in World War II. Its conversion into the trans-atlantic ocean-liner SS Excambion in 1948 marked a significant shift in its purpose.

Here are some key facts about the Texas Clipper's service:

The ship's transfer to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Artificial Reef Program in 2006 marked the beginning of its final chapter.