The Concrete Ships of WWI and WWII: An Experiment In Maritime Construction
WWI
Atlantus
Cape Fear
Cuyamaca
Dinsmore
Latham
Moffitt
Palo Alto
Peralta
Polias
San Pasqual
Sapona
Selma
WWII
Anderson
Aspdin
Chateliere
Considere
Cowham
Eckel
Grant
Hennibique
Humphrey
Kahn
Lesley
Meade
Merriman
Pasley
Pollard
Saylor
Slater
Smeaton
Talbot
Thatcher
Vicat
Vidal
Vitruvius
Wason
Barges
Quartz
YOGN 82
Breakwaters
Powell River
Kiptopeke
 

S. S. Peralta

The S. S. Peralta was an oil tanker built by the San Fransisco Shipbuilding Company and launched in February of 1921. She is the sister ship of the Palo Alto.

In 1924, the Peralta was purchased and converted into a sardine cannery in Alaska. 24 years later, the ship was moored off Antioch, CA.

Finally, in 1958, the Peralta was purchased by Pacifica Papers to be used as part of a giant floating breakwater on the Powell River to protect its log storage pond. She floats aside several of concrete ships built during World War II.

Location

The Peralta is still afloat as part of a breakwater for a pulp and paper mill in Powell River in British Columbia, Canada. She is the last ship of the World War I fleet still afloat. At 420 feet, she is also the largest concrete ship afloat.

In December of 2000, the mill was downsized as the result of a corporate merger between Pacifica Papers and NorskeCanada. The mill no longer processes raw materials, so they were planning to remove a few ships from the breakwater. There was discussion of sinking the Peralta as an artifical reef; however, the company changed its mind and decided to keep all ten breakwater ships. The Peralta is safe for now.

Photos

Click on a photo for a larger version
(Courtesy of John Campbell)

 

Related Links

Vital Statistics

Gross Tonnage: 6,144
Net Tonnage: 3,696
Dimensions: 128.02 meters x 16.46 m x 10,67 m.
Engine: T.3-cyl., 359 nhp, Llewellyn Iron Works, Los Angeles, 1 screw.