This is a copy of a post on the CHUM board.
The Texas Clipper did indeed settle her stern at her berth in Beaumont. I'm unsure whether the exact cause was a leak, a bilge pump problem, or something else, but she has been fixed and is floating again.
However, as a result of this incident MARAD (who currently holds title to her) has decided that maybe she'd be better off scrapped and has sent out emergency RFP's to get bids on scrapping her.
PLEASE WRITE MARAD AND LET THEM KNOW TEXAS DIVERS DON'T WANT HER SCRAPPED.
Emails should be sent to Ms. Julie Nelson (julie.nelson@dot.gov) with a CC to Ms. Zoe Washnis (zoe.washnis@dot.gov).
A sample email is below. Feel free to cut & paste, but the more you add your own input and personalize it, the better the responses will be. One suggestion from Dale Shively is: ask them a question invoking a response. If you just make a statement then they are under no obligation to respond. If they are forced to respond, then that indicates they have read the email.
please post this on any other boards that you are a member of
23 May 2006
Dear Ms. Nelson,
I have heard from Texas Parks & Wildlife that MARAD is considering scrapping the Texas Clipper. We in the Texas scuba diving community have eagerly followed the Texas Clipper's progress over the years and strongly believe that local tourism, scuba divers, and sport and commercial fishermen would all benefit greatly from the Clipper's being made an artificial reef.
Florida has had two strong examples of this - first the Spiegel Grove, which even when the sinking went drastically different than planned became a first-class dive site and most recently the Oriskany, which has received enthusiastic support from the dive community and has divers from all over the U.S. booking trips to Escambia County Florida.
Texas has much invested in the Texas Clipper. She has a proud history, and Texas Parks and Wildlife has spent many man hours to bring her into the Artificial Reef Program. Please don't let all of this end up in the scrap yard.
What is the exact status of the Texas Clipper project? What can we as Texas dive clubs, dive shops, and individual divers do to ensure she becomes an artificial reef in Texas?
Sincerely,
The Texas Clipper did indeed settle her stern at her berth in Beaumont. I'm unsure whether the exact cause was a leak, a bilge pump problem, or something else, but she has been fixed and is floating again.
However, as a result of this incident MARAD (who currently holds title to her) has decided that maybe she'd be better off scrapped and has sent out emergency RFP's to get bids on scrapping her.
PLEASE WRITE MARAD AND LET THEM KNOW TEXAS DIVERS DON'T WANT HER SCRAPPED.
Emails should be sent to Ms. Julie Nelson (julie.nelson@dot.gov) with a CC to Ms. Zoe Washnis (zoe.washnis@dot.gov).
A sample email is below. Feel free to cut & paste, but the more you add your own input and personalize it, the better the responses will be. One suggestion from Dale Shively is: ask them a question invoking a response. If you just make a statement then they are under no obligation to respond. If they are forced to respond, then that indicates they have read the email.
please post this on any other boards that you are a member of
23 May 2006
Dear Ms. Nelson,
I have heard from Texas Parks & Wildlife that MARAD is considering scrapping the Texas Clipper. We in the Texas scuba diving community have eagerly followed the Texas Clipper's progress over the years and strongly believe that local tourism, scuba divers, and sport and commercial fishermen would all benefit greatly from the Clipper's being made an artificial reef.
Florida has had two strong examples of this - first the Spiegel Grove, which even when the sinking went drastically different than planned became a first-class dive site and most recently the Oriskany, which has received enthusiastic support from the dive community and has divers from all over the U.S. booking trips to Escambia County Florida.
Texas has much invested in the Texas Clipper. She has a proud history, and Texas Parks and Wildlife has spent many man hours to bring her into the Artificial Reef Program. Please don't let all of this end up in the scrap yard.
What is the exact status of the Texas Clipper project? What can we as Texas dive clubs, dive shops, and individual divers do to ensure she becomes an artificial reef in Texas?
Sincerely,
