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From a Jupiter Florida newspaper...
September 24, 2003
The bad luck that dogged the 164-foot freighter Zion Train has continued even after it was sunk four months ago to become an artificial reef off the Jupiter Inlet.
Divers from the Jupiter Dive Center went down to visit the wreck this week, and it wasn't there. After searching the area three miles offshore and about one mile northeast of the inlet, divers discovered that underwater swells from Hurricane Isabel last week had torn the ship in half and moved the wreckage more than 200 feet from where it had come to rest after being scuttled in early June.
"I cannot believe it; this ship weighs in excess of 200 gross tons and it was tossed around like a toy in a bathtub," said Dive Center Owner Randy Jordan. The Zion Train is in about 90 feet of water.
The ship was scuttled by Palm Beach County's Department of Environmental Resources Management June 1 to become the county's 43rd artificial reef. The sinking went without a hitch, and divers at the time reported the ship was sitting upright on the bottom.
But not any more, said Jordan. "It was shredded."
Bob Deacy, who works with the county's artificial reef program, said Tuesday he was not aware of the damage to the Zion Train. "I haven't been on that wreck in more than a month," he said.
Carmen Vare, who directs the program could not be reached for comment.
The Zion Train was built in 1962 in The Netherlands and served as a cargo carrier. Later it was renamed and began sailing in the Caribbean. While docked on the Miami River in July 1997, the ship was attacked by pirates armed with knives and guns who killed four of the nine members of the Haitian crew. A fifth crew member died later of his wounds.
Following the attack the ship was renamed again, becoming the Fidele. But it ran aground off South Beach in October 1997 and was abandoned at dock after running up repair bills totaling more than $100,000. It was later seized by federal marshals for nonpayment of dockage fees and sold to a salvage company.
Palm Beach County paid $25,000 to acquire and clean the ship prior to sinking
September 24, 2003
The bad luck that dogged the 164-foot freighter Zion Train has continued even after it was sunk four months ago to become an artificial reef off the Jupiter Inlet.
Divers from the Jupiter Dive Center went down to visit the wreck this week, and it wasn't there. After searching the area three miles offshore and about one mile northeast of the inlet, divers discovered that underwater swells from Hurricane Isabel last week had torn the ship in half and moved the wreckage more than 200 feet from where it had come to rest after being scuttled in early June.
"I cannot believe it; this ship weighs in excess of 200 gross tons and it was tossed around like a toy in a bathtub," said Dive Center Owner Randy Jordan. The Zion Train is in about 90 feet of water.
The ship was scuttled by Palm Beach County's Department of Environmental Resources Management June 1 to become the county's 43rd artificial reef. The sinking went without a hitch, and divers at the time reported the ship was sitting upright on the bottom.
But not any more, said Jordan. "It was shredded."
Bob Deacy, who works with the county's artificial reef program, said Tuesday he was not aware of the damage to the Zion Train. "I haven't been on that wreck in more than a month," he said.
Carmen Vare, who directs the program could not be reached for comment.
The Zion Train was built in 1962 in The Netherlands and served as a cargo carrier. Later it was renamed and began sailing in the Caribbean. While docked on the Miami River in July 1997, the ship was attacked by pirates armed with knives and guns who killed four of the nine members of the Haitian crew. A fifth crew member died later of his wounds.
Following the attack the ship was renamed again, becoming the Fidele. But it ran aground off South Beach in October 1997 and was abandoned at dock after running up repair bills totaling more than $100,000. It was later seized by federal marshals for nonpayment of dockage fees and sold to a salvage company.
Palm Beach County paid $25,000 to acquire and clean the ship prior to sinking
