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Old 12-18-2008, 02:55 PM   #1
PFspear86
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Smile Ship Heading To Key West

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miam...ry/817451.html

Sorry about the whole going to the link part, not to sure on how to put it up on the thread. I am sure someone will helpout to make it convienient for others...thanks
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Old 12-18-2008, 03:11 PM   #2
KEYSKILLER
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Re: Ship Heading To Key West

Quote:
Originally Posted by PFspear86 View Post
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miam...ry/817451.html

Sorry about the whole going to the link part, not to sure on how to put it up on the thread. I am sure someone will helpout to make it convienient for others...thanks
KEY WEST
Bank buys ship, keeps Key West reef plan afloat

BY CAMMY CLARK
cclark@MiamiHerald.com
First State Bank of the Florida Keys purchased the USS Hoyt S. Vandenberg for $1.35 million Wednesday morning at a federal auction in Virginia, clearing the way for the former World War II and Cold War ship to become an artificial reef near Key West.

''Thank god that piece of the puzzle is done and we can finish the project and sink the ship,'' Key West Mayor Morgan McPherson said. ``It's been a rough road.''

The 12-year project came perilously close to ending badly Wednesday when negotiations between a bank consortium, a Virginia shipyard and three shipyard subcontractors failed to reach a settlement for a $1.6 million lien for unpaid cleaning and decontamination bills.

That brought the fate of the Vandenberg to the steps of a federal courthouse for auction. McPherson said the bank consortium's lead lender, BB&T, failed to show up but First State Bank, part of the consortium, came to the rescue.

In a bidding war that included Colonna's Shipyard in Norfolk, Va. -- where the ship is currently housed -- First State Bank came out on top, McPherson said. If another party had won, the Vandenberg might have been destroyed for scrap metal.

The bank will give the ship's title back to the city of Key West; the bank will be repaid from a pool of $8.2 million in federal, state and local funding available only after the ship is sunk.

McPherson said there are now no financial hurdles in the way for the 524-foot Vandenberg to be towed from Virginia to Key West for sinking in waters six miles off the island city.

FEBRUARY, MARCH

Key West City Commissioner Bill Verge said the sinking could occur in late February or early March.

Verge said the ship needs a little more work done for scuttling and must secure a Coast Guard permit before it can be towed.

Once in Key West, the 14,300-ton ship will be made safe for divers by cutting openings and sealing some areas. It also will be prepared for sinking by using explosives. Some of the work will be done in Key West where cruise ships dock and the public can see it.

The rest of the work will be done at the sinking site, where the ship will be kept in place by four large anchors set by the Coast Guard.

''Our economy and our environment needs it,'' said Key West dive boat captain Joe Weatherby, who started the project 12 years ago.

A SIZABLE REEF

The ship would become the world's second-largest artificial reef that was intentionally sunk. The 911-foot Oriskany, sunk off the coast of Pensacola in 2006, is the largest.

McPherson said he expects the Vandenberg will provide a boost to the struggling Key West economy.

''We've never been able to draw wreck divers before,'' McPherson said. ``Wreck divers brought a whole lifeline to Key Largo and the Upper Keys with the Spiegel Grove [sunk in 2002] and to Pensacola with the Oriskany.''

Once the Vandenberg is sunk, Verge said there will be no additional costs for maintenance.

''I want to dive it every day for 10 years,'' said Weatherby, who handpicked the Vandenberg out of 500 mothballed ships in 1996. ``I'll never be able to see all of it -- it's that big and that cool. This is going to be best wreck diving experience on planet Earth. But of course, I'm a little biased.''
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Old 12-18-2008, 04:09 PM   #3
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Re: Ship Heading To Key West

It's about time. Can't wait!
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Old 12-18-2008, 06:18 PM   #4
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Re: Ship Heading To Key West

This is a wonderful thing for our community and our economy! AND it will be huntable!!
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Old 12-18-2008, 07:03 PM   #5
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Re: Ship Heading To Key West

What depth will she lie in....
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Old 12-18-2008, 07:12 PM   #6
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Re: Ship Heading To Key West

it says on this website

http://www.bigshipwrecks.com/diving/.../dreamdive.htm

140 feet

with the decks at 80 and super structure and tower reaching up to 40
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Old 12-18-2008, 08:53 PM   #7
ocean_hunter
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Re: Ship Heading To Key West

WOOOOOH !

There really is a santa
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Old 12-18-2008, 09:28 PM   #8
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Re: Ship Heading To Key West

sweet....hope this goes from here to the ocean floor without another hitch.
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Old 12-18-2008, 09:39 PM   #9
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Re: Ship Heading To Key West

oh dude i just pick the perfect time to get certified this is sick the vandenburg!!!!!!:
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