News from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
Oct. 8 , 2009 - Vol. 39, No. 404
For more information contact Jeffrey Tinsman, Fisheries Section, DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, 302-739-4782; or Michael Globetti, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Ex-Navy destroyer Radford to be sunk off the Indian River Inlet as longest vessel ever reefed in the Atlantic
DOVER — As part of the first multi-state reefing effort, Delaware soon will take title to the decommissioned Navy destroyer ex-Arthur W. Radford to have the former warship sunk next year at a new artificial reef off the Indian River Inlet.
The Radford, at a length of 563 feet, will be the longest vessel ever reefed in the Atlantic, with the sinking to take place at the Del-Jersey-Land inshore site located 26 miles southeast of the Indian River Inlet.
The sinking is expected to take place in spring or summer of 2010, over the jointly-developed Del-Jersey-Land reef, which is equidistant from fishing ports in Indian River, Cape May, N.J., and Ocean City, Md. The reef is a collaborative effort of the three states cited in its name—Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland—and comprises an area of about one square mile with a depth of 120-130 feet.
“Beyond benefiting marine life, the sinking of the Radford at the Del-Jersey-Land site will enhance the coastal economies of the three states through recreational fishing and diving,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “Sharing the Radford as reefing with our sister states also is a boon in moving forward with Delaware’s own internationally-acclaimed artificial reef program.”
Delaware Governor Jack Markell also hailed what the sinking stands for: “Expanding artificial reefs in Delaware waters is good for our environment and our economy,” Gov. Markell said. “Projects like this link our environmental health to what Delaware’s doing economically in creating new fish habitat. When the Radford is sunk onto the Del-Jersey-Land Reef, Delaware will be baiting a hook for both environmental and economic opportunity.”
This will be the first multi-state reefing effort since the site was permitted in 2006 with the purpose of joint development by the three states’ reef programs. Funding for the ship’s transportation, clean-up, preparation, sinking and monitoring will be shared among the three states and the Navy.
The Navy announced the availability of the Radford for reefing in January of 2008. In order to apply for the retired warship, the Delaware Reef Program advertised for contractors and American Marine Group, a Virginia-based marine towing, salvage and reefing company, was the successful bidder. The company, which has extensive experience reefing ships in the Atlantic, will clean, prepare, tow and sink the Radford. The work will be completed at a commercial facility in the Philadelphia area.
“Delaware is looking forward to initiating the reefing process,” said Jeffrey Tinsman, manager of the Delaware Reef Program of DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. “The Radford is an exceptionally good reefing candidate and we expect the preparation of the ship for artificial reefing to be completed in a timely and cost-effective manner. We are excited about adding this great vessel to a mid-Atlantic reef site that’s accessible from ports in three states.”
“Maryland is also pleased to be a part of this rare opportunity to provide ecological enhancement off the Delmarva Peninsula, which will contribute economic enhancement to the sport fishing community,” said Maryland DNR Fisheries Service Director Tom O’Connell.
The destroyer, named for Navy admiral Arthur W. Radford who served as the commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command and chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was commissioned in 1977 and decommissioned in 2003.
Michael Globetti
Public Affairs-Office of the Secretary
Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control