George Vancouver Liberty Ship Reef

The George Vancouver Liberty Ship Reef is composed of one Liberty Ship, the George Vancouver. Eleven other Liberty Ships and two tankers are located at other reef sites along the Texas coast.

The George Vancouver construction was completed on July 22, 1942. She brought supplies to Suez for the Battle of El Alamein, where the Allies began to push the Germans from North Africa. From 1942 to 45, the Vancouver traveled to ports in the U.S., New Zealand, Egypt, South Africa, Australia and other countries. In 1943, two crew members were lost overboard in heavy seas. During the same year the stress of everyday life caused two other personnel to jump overboard, where they were rescued by another ship.

During deployment to the Freeport Liberty Ship Reef site in 1976, the Vancouver sank during a storm and settled to the bottom of the Gulf at its present position.

The water depth at the Vancouver Liberty Ship Reef is 40 to 60 feet, and the shallowest depth to the deck of the wreck is 33 feet.

Using the NAD83 datum set, the center point of the George Vancouver Liberty Ship Reef is located at 28 degrees 47 minutes 34.817 seconds North and 95 degrees 20 minutes 52.052 seconds West (State Tract 336). This point can be reached by sailing 9 nautical miles on a bearing of 213 degrees from the Freeport jetties. A TPWD buoy is located just off the bow of the ship. The Rutherford Well No. 4, located near the SE corner of the artificial reef boundary can be used as a landmark (28 degrees 47 minutes 23.974 seconds North and 95 degrees 20 minutes 41.428 seconds West).

A downloadable version of the brochure on the George Vancouver Liberty Ship Reef is available

• George Vancouver Liberty Ship Reef (PDF 717.8 KB)