Traditional Boats & Tall Ships Magazine

Sinking of the Vandenberg creates the second largest artificial reef

The Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg sank yesterday, successfully concluding a 13-year-project to convert the decommissioned military missile-tracking ship into a new artificial reef off Key West in Florida. 

Demolition experts pushed a button that ignited cutting charges strategically positioned in bilge areas below the ship’s waterline and The Vandenberg disappeared below the waterline less than two minutes later at a location approximately seven miles south of Key West in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The water depth at the sink site is 140 feet, but the 523-foot Vandenberg is so large that its upper superstructure lies only 40 feet below the surface of the ocean. The ship is the second largest vessel in the world ever purposely sunk to become an artificial reef.

The sinking also completes the Florida Keys Shipwreck Trek, a series of intentionally sunk vessels that begins off Key Largo with the Spiegel Grove and ends with the Vandenberg. When ready, it will provide new habitat for marine life, a recreational venue for divers and fishermen and an "underwater classroom" for marine science students. Seventy percent of the $8.6 million project’s funding resources and some 75,000 man-hours were required to rid the vessel of contaminants.

The removals and additional ship cleansing were required to receive the necessary federal and state permits to sink the ship in the sanctuary without risking environmental impact to the marine ecosystem. 

Project organisers say the prime attraction of the Vandenberg is its huge size and diversified structure that should appeal to divers of all skill levels. While some sections of the ship are expected to rise to within 40 feet of the surface, other areas should appeal to divers with advanced certification to dive in deep environments beneath overhead structures.

The ship first saw duty as a U.S. Army troop transport named the General Harry Taylor. It became the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg in 1963 and tracked Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space launches off Cape Canaveral. It was retired in 1983, but received its most public exposure when cast as a Russian science ship in Virus, a 1999 film starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Sutherland.

Project officials say the Vandenberg reef is expected to generate $80 million in tourism-related sales during the next 10 years, and point out environmental benefits including alleviating recreational diving pressure on natural coral reefs.

For more information visit www.bigshipwrecks.com

 

Update: The Asgard II won't be raised

Unfortunately, the decision has now been taken by the Irish Government not to raise the Asgard II marking the end of an era for the vessel.

What the future holds for Irish Sail Training remains to be seen but with plans being discussed to procure a more durable vessel for use a new chapter looks set to begin...

Statement by the Minister for Defence Mr. Willie O'Dea TD on Asgard II 23rd February 2009

At its last meeting the Board of Coiste An Asgard had a full discussion on the possibility of salvaging the Asgard II. The unanimous view of the Board was that a salvage operation should not be pursued any further. Having carefully considered the Board's report to me, I have accepted its recommendation.

Spending in the region of €2 million on a salvage effort, the outcome of which is uncertain, is something we cannot afford at this time. A real risk exists whereby more than €2 million could be expended on a salvage effort that proves unsuccessful or, following which, the vessel is found to be damaged beyond repair.

The fact is, that until the vessel is salvaged, it would not be possible to assess whether it can be restored and the cost of doing so. Clearly, the greater the damage, the higher the cost of restoration.

The Asgard II is a well-loved and well-regarded 30-year-old wooden vessel that would have ever-increasing maintenance costs in the years ahead. The Board was of the view that vessels that sink are "never the same" after restoration and are likely to have on-going maintenance problems. In addition, the possibility of increased regulatory requirements by the Department of Transport could add substantially to the cost of restoration.

The Board also took into account the view that parents of potential trainees (particularly those with no sailing experience) may be reluctant to allow their children to sail on a vessel that has sunk.

While the name "Asgard" has been associated with two noble and important vessels, it is also about sail training and introducing young people to the experience of sailing. My priority is to ensure the continuation of the sail-training scheme.

I have accepted the Board's recommendation to initiate planning for the procurement of a new vessel that will be similar in design to Asgard II but with a steel hull (a steel hulled vessel would be less expensive to build and maintain than a wooden hulled vessel). I would also hope that the future Asgard III would have facilities to cater for persons with physical disabilities, something the Asgard II could not.

The SS France/Norway becomes a legend

Two auctions held in Paris last weekend (8th and 9th February) to sell artefacts from the classic French liner SS France/Norway exceeded the expected amount. The total amount achieved at the auctions reached €1,186,000. The bow of the ship was sold for €273,000 to a French property developer based in Deauville, Normandy. It was thanks to the dedicated work of French maritime expert, Jacques Dworczak that nearly 500 items were saved from the scrapyard during the break up of vessel in Alang Bay in India.

The auction provides a tribute to a liner loved by many. The vessel has a remarkable place in liner history. At 66,343 gross tons, the France was the third largest vessel in service after the two Queens and the fourth largest in all history, counting her predecessor Normandie. Her length of 1,035 feet made her the longest ocean liner ever constructed. The service speed of 31 knots made France the second fastest liner in the world. The appearance was classic, but still new in a sense. The long black hull and the red black-topped funnels were traditions dating back to the 19th century. The sweeping ‘whale back’ bow was adopted from the Normandie.

Her maiden voyage took place on February 3rd 1962 and she remained in service until the 1970s when the advent of air travel saw diminishing passenger numbers. In 1974 she came out of service and remained in a backwater in Le Havre for nearly four years before being sold to a Norwegian shipping company and was refitted and renamed the Norway. During the eighties and nineties she remained a popular transatlantic cruise liner, but after a disastrous on board explosion in 2003 and the arrival of faster, more efficient liners, her days were numbered. After many discussions as to the viability of her becoming a floating hotel stalled she was earmarked to be broken up and after having been renamed Blue Lady for her final voyage to the Alang Bay scrapyard, she was broken up.

For the full history of the vessel visit www.maritimematters.com/norway.html

 

 

Raise the Asgard II

You can lend your voice to the growing swell of people petitioning the Irish government to raise the Asgard II.

 

Afloat magazine readers recently voted overwhelmingly for the Asgard to be lifted in an online poll. But unfortunately she still languishes at the bottom of the sea. To galvanise support, the magazine has opened an online petition to offer a voice for everyone who wants to save the ship and Irish sail training before it's too late.

 

Sign the petition by visiting www.afloat.ie/news/raise-the-asgard-sign-the-petition-here

 

 

Falls of Clyde drydocking delayed

As a result of adverse weather conditions plans to drydock the Falls of Clyde earlier this month have now been delayed.

The 130-year old vessel was scheduled to make her first seagoing voyage in 41 years when she was to be towed to the Marisco drydock facility at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbour to be assessed by a team of marine surveyors.

The decision to halt the voyage was made 24 hours before the ship was scheduled to leave her current berth as the wind and sea conditions at the time could have jeopardised the safety of the ship. She will now have to wait for another opening in the drydock's schedule and the coordination of associated logistics such as finding an available tug to tow her.

The delay has also been caused by some potential environmental issues that have recently been identified by the Friends of Falls of Clyde. Scientific testing is currently being carried out to ascertain the potential hazards before a decision is made on the next steps for preservation.

To find out more about The Falls of Clyde visit www.friendsoffallsofclyde.org

 

Cynara 'Discovered' - Request for more information

A Reader writes...

On a recent trip to the many secluded bays south of Tokyo, Japan, I was surprised to find the grand old yacht Cynara.

Apparently, she's been in Japan for 35 years. She's a 90ft Gaff Ketch built in l927 in Gosport
by  Camper & Nicholson. But apart from that the present owners know little of her history. I would be interested to hear from anyone with information on this historic vessel.

Can you help? If you know more about the history of Cynara drop us a line at tallship@wildpublishing.com and we'll put you in touch with the reader.

Replica of Discovery handed over to Westenhanger Castle

A replica of ‘Discovery’, one of the three ships that established the first English speaking colony in America, will formally be presented to Westenhanger Castle later on this week.

The ship will be given into the custody of the castle by the Jamestown UK Foundation, a charity which was set up to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English-speaking settlement in the New World.

The Chairman of the Jamestown UK Foundation, KCC Deputy Leader Alex King, will formally unveil a plaque to commemorate the handover. Attending the event will be other members of the foundation including Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL, the Lord Cornwallis OBE DL and Lady Cornwallis, the Rt Hon Michael Howard MP, a number of Kent Ambassadors and representatives from the US Embassy.

John Forge, the owner of the castle and Mark and Terry Whitling, who are distant descendents of Sir Thomas Smythe, will formally receive the ‘Discovery’.

Westenhanger Castle was the home of Sir Thomas Smythe, who obtained a Royal Charter in 1600 to set up the East India Company. He subsequently commissioned the construction of a number ships including ‘Discovery’.

The three ships left London on 19 December 1606 and arrived in Chesapeake Bay in April 1607. On 13 May 1607, the settlers landed in the area that went on to become Jamestown, Virginia.

A ‘Pocahontas’ mermaid sculpture designed by Georgia Mason and given to the people of Kent by the City of Norfolk, Virginia, will also be unveiled to take up permanent residence in the castle.

The well known Kent artist, Graham Clark, will also display his etching commemorating the 400th anniversary.

The handover event, which takes place exactly 402 years after the ships left London for the New World, also marks the closure of the UK’s commemorations of America’s 400th anniversary.

National Historic Ships launches new directory of skills and services

National Historic Ships has just launched a brand new directory of skills and services. It is the outcome of a six-month Infrastructure Audit commissioned in July 2007 to assess facilities and skills in the UK which offer critical support to the nation’s historic fleet.

A survey of vessel owners brought a highly positive response to the idea of producing a Directory that would encompass the whole of the UK and cover all supporting infrastructure for the maintenance and restoration of historic vessels.

You can search the directory by company name, subject category, keyword or geographical location. Over 2,000 companies have been contacted in its creation and already it contains information on 450 of them.

If you are unable to find the skill or facility you are looking for then please contact National Historic Ships. Entries are free and you can offer your own services or recommend another company by filling out an online form.

Pictured: The City of Adelaide