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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
[02:33:56] <Valkyre> Astro your whole life is ruled by the sentence ' life is better without clothes on'
[22:16:00] <DSomms> it was normal until astro got here
Astro: Patron Saint of Drains | |
Great pictures! Thanks again for helping to make it happen!
Tetanus for Breakfast!
http://www.shatteredshutter.com | |
man look at all that rebar in the deck, they shoulda just gone ahead and made it out of steel
thanks for the pics always wanted to see it up close
[last edit 4/25/2014 2:41 AM by Explorer Zero - edited 1 times]
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that's pretty amazing Astro!
looks sketchy as fuck though....
[last edit 4/25/2014 8:27 PM by fatwax4 - edited 1 times]
instagram
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nice job astro!
"I think it's fair to say that, if anybody puts their mind to it, they can breach any kind of security — and that certainly seems to be the case here" | |
Lucky! Awesome location.
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The whole weekend was sketchy as fuck - put my foot through more than one floor.
Tetanus for Breakfast!
http://www.shatteredshutter.com | |
I bet! Damn! Lol atleast ya made it.
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That one's fairly intact compared to other concrete ships i've heard about
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Great explore, Astro!
http://www.noelkernsphotography.com | |
That's awesome, nice pics too!
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Great job guys. I've heard of it, but never had seen it. Looks amazing.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools speak because they have to say something. |
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