The Most Beautiful Shipwrecks From Around The World

Concrete Wonder

selmaclose.jpg

During World War I, steel was in short supply, so America starting making ships out of concrete. The S.S. Selma was a 7,500-ton reinforced concrete tanker built during that time. In 1920, after successfully serving several ports in the Gulf of Mexico, the S.S. Selma ran aground on the South Jetty at Tampico, Mexico, which left a 60 ft. long crack in the hull. It was thus abandoned, but not forgotten.

During Prohibition, authorities would take out cases of confiscated booze onto the ship’s remains and destroy them. Throughout the years, plans were made to convert it into a fishing pier, pleasure resort, and oyster farm, but all fell through.