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HELLO, REEF numbers GOODBYE, SHIP

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2009

Updated: 05/28/2009 12:33 am

KEY WEST - A 13-year project to create an artificial reef off the Florida Keys for sport divers and anglers has culminated with the scuttling of a 523-foot-long former U.S. Air Force missile tracking ship. It took just a minute and 54 seconds Wednesday to sink the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg after demolition experts triggered a series of explosives that lined both sides of the ship's bilge area below the waterline. The ship settled on the bottom of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in an upright position.

17,000 TONS

Weight of ship

523 FEET

Length of ship

42 EXPLOSIVES

Were detonated

2 MINUTES
Approximate time
it took for the ship to sink

$8 MILLION

Expected tourism-

related revenue from the new artificial reef
Text from

The Associated Press

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