Heavy waves breaking apart Historic Cement Ship

Last year, the already deteriorating Cement Ship took a beating from powerful storms during El Nino. This year is no different. Repeated hits from big waves this weekend have broken down the ship even more.

“The part that’s closest to the pier, the stern of the ship, has really shifted up on its side,” said Christina Cecchettini with California State Parks. “So that’s a big, big change for it.”

The sight of the nearly 100-year-old, sunken landmark has attracted people from all over. Even though the park was closed Sunday, that didn’t stop them from coming in.

“I came out here today because I wanted to make sure that my grandchildren got a chance to see something. It’s historic,” said Cathy Escobar of Santa Cruz. “It’s been here for so long and, you never know, it may not be here next year.”

Eighty-year-old Gayle Stroud made a special trip from San Jose to see the slammed vessel, steeped in history.

“I’ve been coming over here since I was 25-years-old,” said Stroud.

The SS Palo Alto, nicknamed the Cement Ship, was built in 1919 as a WWI tanker, but never made it to wartime. In 1930, it was towed to the Central Coast and turned into a ship for entertainment.

“It was a great place to party, they had big bands there,” said Cecchettini. “But it only lasted for a couple of years because the Great Depression hit. People didn’t have money to go party and also the ship already started to break up.”

State park officials said a few years later it was sold to the State of California for $1 dollar and became an attraction and place of recreation.

“I used to drop my son and his friends here to fish,” said Claudine Corbet. “So it’s kind of sad to see it go.”

Officials said over the years it’s been crumbling with every wave. Pieces have washed ashore and they’ve had to close sections of the ship. Since it’s concrete, it cannot be repaired.

“People need to take into perspective historic things and also the power of the ocean,” said Escobar.

Park officials said once the storms end and there is a low tide they will be able to learn more about the condition of the cement ship.