A World War II ship that served for decades as a training vessel for Texas A&M University sea cadets was sunk in open waters off the Texas coast Saturday, November 17, beginning its new mission as an underwater habitat and diving destination. The 473-foot, 7,000-ton Texas Clipper slipped below the waves about 17 miles offshore at about 12:35 p.m. and took around two hours to sink according to Bob Murphy, a Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife reef specialist. The operation to turn the Texas Clipper into an artificial reef cost $4 million and has taken a decade to complete.

USTS Texas Clipper (Ex-USS Queens (APA-103), Ex-SS Excambion) was a World War II attack troop transport (USS Queens) which was converted into a trans-atlantic cruise ship (SS Excambion) in 1948 and then a merchant marine training ship (TS Texas Clipper) in 1965. The ship served as a training ship for 30 years as part of the Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University Galveston. It was given the name Texas Clipper because the rounded stern was reminiscent of old clipper ships. In 2006, it was transferred to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Artificial Reef Program to be turned into an artificial reef. This transfer saved the ship from being turned into scrap.

The Texas Clipper was prepared to be an artificial reef, docked at the Port of Brownsville for cleaning of hazardous materials and modifications for wildlife and diver safety. The conversion, cleanup and sinking cost over 4 million dollars. The Texas Clipper was sunk on approximately 17 nautical miles (31 km) Northeast of South Padre Island, TX. It was placed in 132 feet of water. The top of the ship will reach depths as shallow as 50 feet (15 m).
Careful consideration was used by TPWD during the conversion of the ship into an artificial reef to preserve the ship's appearance. All masts and kingposts that were cut to meet Coast Guard clearance requirements are being secured to the deck of the ship to add interest for divers and increase complexity for wildlife.
The Texas Clipper will be one of the largest vessels serving as an artificial reef off Texas. It is 473 feet (144 m) long. The V.A. Fogg, off Freeport, is 570 feet (174 m) long. Twelve other WWII era ships are also part of the TPWD Artificial Reef Program.