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May 10, 2006
Vessel update tonight By Christine Braden cbraden@keynoter.com Posted-Wednesday, May 10, 2006 9:32 AM EDT Former Navy ship planned for scuttling The dream of creating an artificial reef off Key West is closer to realization than ever, however, obstacles such as funding its nearly $6 million price tag still pose problems. A public forum at 7:30 tonight at the Key West Ferry Terminal serves as the latest development in more than a decade of planning and preparation to sink the US Navy ship USS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg in 144 feet of water 7 miles south of Key West to create an artificial reef. “We've had support from all over the country and all over the community, both locally and at the state level,” said Joe Weatherby, founder of the Vandenberg Project. “Now we're trying to put everybody together to finish this project off.” The meeting will allow public officials, environmental experts and Vanderberg supporters the opportunity to discuss the future of the project, as well as ask questions regarding funding and development specifics. Additionally, “We've got people coming in from around the country.... They're going to be informing us about how successful these projects have been in other places,” Weatherby said. He said the success of the project, which would take a lot of traffic off live reefs, could generate a $100 million boost to the economy through the tourism and marine industries in the first several years. If that figure is even close to correct, the benefit to the community seems to far outweigh the cost. In 2002, the 510-foot Spiegel Grove, also a former Navy ship, was intentionally sunk off Key Largo. It's widely seen as boosting Upper Keys tourism. Such a boost “is typical of these projects,” Weatherby said. The Vandenberg “would be really good for the environment and businesses.” So far, the Artificial Reefs of the Keys organization, which spearheads the project, has raised $1.7 million in funding. It has nearly $4 million left to generate before a December 2006 deadline given to them by the federal government. Before the deadline, Artificial Reefs of the Keys must have all of its money so it can remove the Vandenberg from the James River in Newport News, Va., and place it in a Norfolk shipyard to prepare it for the sinking. That includes removing contaminants. A timeline for when the Keys could actually see results is heavily dependant on making sure all of the funding is in place. “”We're just trying to push it across the goal line,” Weatherby said. Presenters at tonight's meeting will include Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson, City Commissioner Bill Verge, Vandenberg Project Manager Jeff Dey, international ship deployment expert Jay Straith, Washington State Ships to Reefs Coordinator Mike Racine and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Biologist Bill Horn.

May 10, 2006

Vessel update tonight

By Christine Braden cbraden@keynoter.com Posted-Wednesday, May 10, 2006 9:32 AM EDT

Former Navy ship planned for scuttling

The dream of creating an artificial reef off Key West is closer to realization than ever, however, obstacles such as funding its nearly $6 million price tag still pose problems.

A public forum at 7:30 tonight at the Key West Ferry Terminal serves as the latest development in more than a decade of planning and preparation to sink the US Navy ship USS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg in 144 feet of water 7 miles south of Key West to create an artificial reef. “We've had support from all over the country and all over the community, both locally and at the state level,” said Joe Weatherby, founder of the Vandenberg Project. “Now we're trying to put everybody together to finish this project off.”

The meeting will allow public officials, environmental experts and Vanderberg supporters the opportunity to discuss the future of the project, as well as ask questions regarding funding and development specifics.

Additionally, “We've got people coming in from around the country.... They're going to be informing us about how successful these projects have been in other places,” Weatherby said.

He said the success of the project, which would take a lot of traffic off live reefs, could generate a $100 million boost to the economy through the tourism and marine industries in the first several years. If that figure is even close to correct, the benefit to the community seems to far outweigh the cost.

In 2002, the 510-foot Spiegel Grove, also a former Navy ship, was intentionally sunk off Key Largo. It's widely seen as boosting Upper Keys tourism.

Such a boost “is typical of these projects,” Weatherby said. The Vandenberg “would be really good for the environment and businesses.”

So far, the Artificial Reefs of the Keys organization, which spearheads the project, has raised $1.7 million in funding. It has nearly $4 million left to generate before a December 2006 deadline given to them by the federal government.

Before the deadline, Artificial Reefs of the Keys must have all of its money so it can remove the Vandenberg from the James River in Newport News, Va., and place it in a Norfolk shipyard to prepare it for the sinking. That includes removing contaminants.

A timeline for when the Keys could actually see results is heavily dependant on making sure all of the funding is in place. “”We're just trying to push it across the goal line,” Weatherby said.

Presenters at tonight's meeting will include Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson, City Commissioner Bill Verge, Vandenberg Project Manager Jeff Dey, international ship deployment expert Jay Straith, Washington State Ships to Reefs Coordinator Mike Racine and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Biologist Bill Horn.