The Selma, a 7500 ton reinforced concrete tanker built in Mobile, Alabama, was launched on June 28, 1919. She was one of several concrete ships conceived and designed during World War 1. Construction was not completed until the war ended. She had a length 420 ft., a beam of 54 ft. and a draft with full cargo of 26 ft.. Her loaded displacement was 13,000 tons. Steel was in short supply because of the war efforts and concrete was then proposed as a viable alternative material for use in ship building. The Selma served several ports in the Gulf of Mexico quite successfully. Unfortunately she ran aground on the South jetty at Tampico, Mexico on May 11, 1920, creating a sizeable crack about 60 ft. long in her hull. She was towed into Galveston for repairs. Although the damage was repairable, the dry-dock crew lacked the knowledge and had no experience repairing a hull of such material. A channel 1,500 ft. long and 25 ft. deep was dug to a point just off Galveston near Pelican Island's eastern shoreline. After being stripped of all valuable equipment, on March 9, 1922 she was towed out to her final berth, and laid to rest. This left the hull partly submerged, although awash when seas were rough. The Selma has over the years been object of many failed plans to convert her for use as a fishing pier, pleasure resort and oyster farm. Long a source of curiosity and local legend, she remains important to concrete and academic experts as an object of study of her construction and durability following decades of exposure to marine conditions.

A friend of mine owns a boat so last weekend when he messaged me asking me if I wanted to go out, of course I said yes! He said we could go see the Selma, since I had never been before. It was good fun and we got to watch boat work in action, when we watched the Carnival Triumph leave from port.


1.
In the Distance by astroberkman17, on Flickr

2.
Love Letterse by astroberkman17, on Flickr

3.
Stern to Bow by astroberkman17, on Flickr

4.
Anchors away by astroberkman17, on Flickr

5.
ReReReRebar by astroberkman17, on Flickr

6.
Down the Hole by astroberkman17, on Flickr

7.
Mossy Moss by astroberkman17, on Flickr

8.
Starboard Hull by astroberkman17, on Flickr

9.
Sunken Stern by astroberkman17, on Flickr




Bonus: Our lovely Ship Captain
Captain Sam by astroberkman17, on Flickr

Holy sheep-dip, Astro! This is some incredible stuff!

Awesome!

What a find! I think you're probably the best explorer in Texas now. My mistakes before for not noticing you!

Badass!

Great pics. You don't see too many boats on here.

Why'd you even waste your time with that rusty piece of rubble..?
Just kidding. Neat spot to relax for a bit and enjoy an ice cold Amber Ale, i'm sure.

I'm grabbing my scuba gear now. Where can I meet you, my darling?

Thanks again for the excellent exploring weekend! Another type of abandoned location crossed off the list and I wasn't even trying.

Is this the one in Galveston? I remember it being more destroyed.

Great how you made every picture very interesting.
Totally awesome - minus those damn cormorants!

Posted by Ground State Great how you made every picture very interesting. Totally awesome - minus those damn cormorants!

Those Neotropic Cormorants sure are enjoying the sun! Lol. Old shipwrecks are both a dream location for urbexers as well as a great location for birders and wildlife lovers such as myself. Makes them even more appealing =) Awesome set and great photos.

NICE!

Incredible. I bet it is a great fishing spot.

great set.

Just curious, is there a beacon anywhere on that heap?

Thanks, y'all! It was great fun.

It is the one in Galveston. Its seen a lot of wear and tear over the years with hurricanes and what have you, but she's holding pretty strong.

Posted by ahhntzville Just curious, is there a beacon anywhere on that heap?

There is not. Why?

Just seems like a hell of a thing to run into in the middle of the night.

Posted by ahhntzville Just seems like a hell of a thing to run into in the middle of the night.

It isn't in the channel and its well marked on charts and maps, so unless it's just a pleasure boat that's got a drunk captain, it's unlikely to be run into.

Very nice! I saw her in Galveston a few years ago and always wanted a closer look.