THOMAS HAYWARD Panama City

The 360 foot Liberty Ship Thomas Hayward was built by the Alabama Drydock Company in Mobile, Alabama, in 1942. She was built as an emergency cargo ship for the U.S. Maritime Commission. Her keel was laid on February 21, 1942, she was launched on May 31, and was delivered to the Watermen Steamship Company on July 31, 1942. 

On May 5, 1946, the Thomas Hayward hit a floating mine off Europe. Although damaged, the Hayward made it safely back to port for repairs. In 1949, she was laid up in the Mobile Reserve Fleet. She was purchased by the Florida Department of Natural Resources and sunk off Destin as an artificial reef on April 14, 1977. The Thomas Hayward now rests in 90 feet of water and has become one of the most popular wreck dives in the area.

Photo: The Thomas Hayward was a 360 foot Liberty Ship. photo courtesy
William Hultgren collection.
 

Basic shipwreck information and images for this section of this site was taken with permission from the book Florida Shipwrecks by Daniel Berg. You are invited to submit your shipwreck related articles, images and information. As long as the text, photographs, sketches etc are of professional quality we will showcase them. Full credit will be provided and a same page link to your web site can be arranged.