FYI,
Organizers issue an SOS for funding to sink Vandenberg
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA
Citizen Staff http://keysnews.com/285231477884771.bsp.htm
KEY WEST The future of the largest proposed artificial reef program in the Keys is in question, as deadlines loom and organizers struggle to secure funding for the $3 million project.
Organizers of the project to sink the USS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg off Key West have all of the necessary permits, but only half the money. They need $1.4 million more, said Capt. Joe Weatherby, an organizer of the project.
Artificial Reefs of the Keys received a letter in August from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration confirming a grant of $1.2 million money that will not be held indefinitely, he said. The group also has received pledges of $250,000 from the Monroe Tourist Development Council, $80,000 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and $30,000 in private donations, Weatherby said. The Tourist Development Council money is required to be spent by September, and at this pace, the wreck will not be deployed until after that.
The group has been raising money for years and even attempted to court out-of-town corporate moguls, who could have the ship named in honor of their company or themselves. Organizers of a similar project in the Lower Keys were able to obtain funding from the family that produces Anheuser-Busch beer. The Adolphus Bush ship was sunk near Looe Key in 1998.
"We need help and we need it now," Weatherby said. "I know everybody is broke from the storms but this is going to benefit everybody every hotel, every restaurant and every gas station. It's going to benefit businesses now and forever ... Everyone talks about creating a long-term sustainable tourism plan. Right now we have a historic opportunity."
Weatherby mentioned that neighboring Miami-Dade and Broward counties constantly are creating new tourist attractions. "We are not adding any new tourism products," he said. "Other places have room. They are building golf courses, resort and casinos and aquariums."
The past two hurricane seasons have put an enormous financial burden on some Key West dive shops. They eagerly have been awaiting the sinking of the 520-foot military ship, which would be the largest wreck in the Keys. "It seems like this is never going to happen," said Jan Henry, manager of Subtropic Dive Center on North Roosevelt Boulevard. "The past two hurricane seasons have just killed us."
The Key West shops compete with Upper and Middle Keys dive shops for a slice of the dive business. There are more and newer wrecks in the Upper Keys. The Upper Keys wrecks are also larger and in better condition. There are two wrecks off Key West, Joe's Tug and the Kayman. Both wrecks have been battered in the past two hurricanes seasons and are not in good condition.
"It would not be an issue if we get that wreck," Henry said of the Vandenberg. "Why come down here when you can dive on better wrecks up there? Joe's Tug is now Joe's Rubble."
Subtropic offers specialty dives, such as drift dives and spearfishing trips to attract business, Henry said. "If we had the Vandenberg, it would make a huge difference," he said. "If we don't get this soon, more dive shops will be out of business."
Sinking the ship will be expensive. The Maritime Administration and National Marine Sanctuary has imposed several expensive requirements on the project, including removal of PCBs and other toxic chemicals from the ship.
The wreck would not require any additional funding after the ship is sunk, and could bring as much $168 million to local businesses and generate $1.2 million in resort taxes during the next decade, according to financial estimates compiled by Artificial Reefs of the Keys.
Artificial Reefs plans to drop the vessel in 140 feet of water seven miles off Key West, near Western Sambos Reef. The wreck would be accessible by advanced and intermediate divers as well as snorkelers, as sections of the ship's top would be 40 feet below the surface. The wreck could be used as an underwater classroom for Florida Keys Community College, said Bob Smith, head of the college's diving program, as well as a training ground for technical and commercial divers.
For information on the project or to find out where to donate money, visit bigshipwrecks.com on the internet.
tohara@keysnews.com Keysnews.com Published on Sunday, January 22, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.bigshipwrecks.com
IMO, Artifical Reefs are definitely worthwhile. The USS Spiegel Grove with all it's problems, has proven that it was worth the effort....
Glenn Patton
Organizers issue an SOS for funding to sink Vandenberg
BY TIMOTHY O'HARA
Citizen Staff http://keysnews.com/285231477884771.bsp.htm
KEY WEST The future of the largest proposed artificial reef program in the Keys is in question, as deadlines loom and organizers struggle to secure funding for the $3 million project.
Organizers of the project to sink the USS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg off Key West have all of the necessary permits, but only half the money. They need $1.4 million more, said Capt. Joe Weatherby, an organizer of the project.
Artificial Reefs of the Keys received a letter in August from the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration confirming a grant of $1.2 million money that will not be held indefinitely, he said. The group also has received pledges of $250,000 from the Monroe Tourist Development Council, $80,000 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and $30,000 in private donations, Weatherby said. The Tourist Development Council money is required to be spent by September, and at this pace, the wreck will not be deployed until after that.
The group has been raising money for years and even attempted to court out-of-town corporate moguls, who could have the ship named in honor of their company or themselves. Organizers of a similar project in the Lower Keys were able to obtain funding from the family that produces Anheuser-Busch beer. The Adolphus Bush ship was sunk near Looe Key in 1998.
"We need help and we need it now," Weatherby said. "I know everybody is broke from the storms but this is going to benefit everybody every hotel, every restaurant and every gas station. It's going to benefit businesses now and forever ... Everyone talks about creating a long-term sustainable tourism plan. Right now we have a historic opportunity."
Weatherby mentioned that neighboring Miami-Dade and Broward counties constantly are creating new tourist attractions. "We are not adding any new tourism products," he said. "Other places have room. They are building golf courses, resort and casinos and aquariums."
The past two hurricane seasons have put an enormous financial burden on some Key West dive shops. They eagerly have been awaiting the sinking of the 520-foot military ship, which would be the largest wreck in the Keys. "It seems like this is never going to happen," said Jan Henry, manager of Subtropic Dive Center on North Roosevelt Boulevard. "The past two hurricane seasons have just killed us."
The Key West shops compete with Upper and Middle Keys dive shops for a slice of the dive business. There are more and newer wrecks in the Upper Keys. The Upper Keys wrecks are also larger and in better condition. There are two wrecks off Key West, Joe's Tug and the Kayman. Both wrecks have been battered in the past two hurricanes seasons and are not in good condition.
"It would not be an issue if we get that wreck," Henry said of the Vandenberg. "Why come down here when you can dive on better wrecks up there? Joe's Tug is now Joe's Rubble."
Subtropic offers specialty dives, such as drift dives and spearfishing trips to attract business, Henry said. "If we had the Vandenberg, it would make a huge difference," he said. "If we don't get this soon, more dive shops will be out of business."
Sinking the ship will be expensive. The Maritime Administration and National Marine Sanctuary has imposed several expensive requirements on the project, including removal of PCBs and other toxic chemicals from the ship.
The wreck would not require any additional funding after the ship is sunk, and could bring as much $168 million to local businesses and generate $1.2 million in resort taxes during the next decade, according to financial estimates compiled by Artificial Reefs of the Keys.
Artificial Reefs plans to drop the vessel in 140 feet of water seven miles off Key West, near Western Sambos Reef. The wreck would be accessible by advanced and intermediate divers as well as snorkelers, as sections of the ship's top would be 40 feet below the surface. The wreck could be used as an underwater classroom for Florida Keys Community College, said Bob Smith, head of the college's diving program, as well as a training ground for technical and commercial divers.
For information on the project or to find out where to donate money, visit bigshipwrecks.com on the internet.
tohara@keysnews.com Keysnews.com Published on Sunday, January 22, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.bigshipwrecks.com
IMO, Artifical Reefs are definitely worthwhile. The USS Spiegel Grove with all it's problems, has proven that it was worth the effort....
Glenn Patton
