SS Thomas Hayward
As we continue the shipwreck trail journey this week I would like to talk about an the area just to the west of Panama City beach. Its called the SS Thomas Hayward. So let’s get started.
SS Thomas Heyward was a liberty ship, a liberty ship is a class of cargo ship built in the United States during World War II under the Emergency American ship building program. Maritime Commission hull number 236. She was built in Mobile, Alabama and was launched May 31, 1942. It was named for Thomas Heyward Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence).
She was leased to Waterman Steamship Company and delivered on July 31, 1942. On May 5, 1946 she hit an unswept mine off Europe. Although damaged the vessel made it safely back to port for repairs. The vessel was placed in the Mobile reserve fleet in 1949, but was reactivated in 1951 for duty during the Korean War.
After final retirement, the vessel was laid up in the James River in Virginia for a time, then was purchased by the Florida Department of Natural Resources and prepared for final disposal as an artificial reef in Pascagoula, Mississippi salvage yard with the super structure cut down to the first deck to meet the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers specifications for artificial reef structures. It was sunk on April 14, 1977 off Destin.
Here are some of the general characteristics of the ship: 360 feet in length, 57 feet wide. She sits in 90 feet of water which qualifies her for advanced divers.
I would like to dive her at some point in the near future. Maybe you might want to dive with me.
Until next week keep making bubbles.
Russell Miller
NAUI #59999
IANTD #224715