New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife |
Removing the vessel from the waterway was a big job that required a barge crane with a lifting capacity of 600 tons. Wire slings were placed under the sunken tug by divers. The crane then lifted the tug full of water to the surface where it was pumped dry. An oil cleaning company was then contracted by the Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Emergency Response to remove all of the oil-soaked debris and mud trapped in the engine and bunk rooms. Once clean, the Billy D was then towed to the Shark River Reef and sunk in a depth of 120 feet. All in all, a very involved and expensive operation, but one that not only removed an environmental hazard from the Shrewsbury River but also created a new home for New Jersey's marine life.
Vessels and reef structures currently available for adoption include:
Reef Program
NJ Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife
P.O. Box 418
Port Republic, NJ 08241
609-748-2020 or Fax: 748-2032
"BHMTC TANK III" and "BHMTC TANK IV"
Two M-48 tanks sponsored by the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club were sunk on the Little Egg Reef on July 28.
"LTC JOSEPH P. CALLAHAN, SR."
An M-60 tank sponsored by the Callahan family was sunk on the Barnegat Light Reef on August 1. "In honor of a loving husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather and for the love and support you have already given to us."
"ATLANTIC COUNTY FEDERATION OF SPORTSMEN'S CLUBS REEF"
A group of 5 tanks sponsored by the Atlantic County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs was sunk on the Great Egg Reef on July 30.
"BUD EVANS REEF"
A group of 3 tanks sponsored by the Ocean City Marlin and Tuna Club was sunk on the Great Egg Reef on July 30.
"FRED ECKARDT REEF"
A group of 3 tanks sponsored by the Ocean City Marlin and Tuna Club was sunk on the Great Egg Reef on July 30.
"GOLDEN EAGLE"
An 80' commercial trawler sponsored by the friends and family of Eagle Pharo was sunk on December 19 on the Sea Girt Reef. "A tribute to Captain Eagle Pharo; he could always find the fish."
"CAPTAIN ED SCHMIDIGER"
An 165' navy tanker barge sponsored by Marine Schmidiger and Paul Donohoe was sunk on October 8 on the Axel Carlson Reef. "In memory of Captain Ed Schmidiger, beloved husband, father and good friend. An avid ocean sportsman. Ed chartered the 'Y-Knot' out of Manasquan River for many year and will be truly missed."
"OCEAN WRECK DIVERS III"
A 165' tanker barge sponsored by the Ocean Wreck Divers was sunk on October 8 on the Axel Carlson Reef.
"THE FISHERMAN"
A 242' tanker barge sponsored by The Fisherman Magazine was sunk on the Sea Girt Reef on August 7.
"COLONEL SAMUEL R. PROBASCO III"
A M-551 tank sponsored by the family was sunk on the Barnegat Light Reef on August 1. "Donated with love, admiration and respect."
BILLY D - 80' tug sunk on the Shark River Reef on July 27 at 26797.5 / 43481.7. Sponsored by the Artificial Reef Association.
ROTHENBACH I - 165' tanker barge sunk on June 11 on the Cape May Reef at 27019.8 / 42712.0. Sponsored by Barbara and Ron Rothenbach.
JERRY - 42' tug sunk on the Garden State North Reef on September 15 at 26870.4 / 43197.5. Sponsored by the Artificial Reef Association.
THE FISHERMAN - 242' tanker barge sunk on the Sea Girt Reef on August 7 at 26905.8 / 43508.3. Sponsored by The Fisherman Magazine and Spentonbush Red Star Company.
GOLDEN EAGLE - 80' commercial trawler sunk on Sea Girt Reef on December 19 at 26907.7 / 43511.2. Sponsored by friends of Eagle Pharo.
RESTORER - 62' tug sunk on December 19 on Sea Girt Reef at 26906.8 / 43509.0. Sponsored by the Artificial Reef Association.
OCEAN WRECK DIVERS III - 165' navy tanker barge sunk on October 8 on the Axel Carlson Reef at 26914.1 / 43435.1. Sponsored by Ocean Wreck Divers.
CAPTAIN ED SCHMIDIGER - 165' navy tanker barge sunk on October 8 on the Axel Carlson Reef at 26918.0 / 43447.9. Sponsored by Marine Schmidiger and Paul Donohoe.
LIBRA - 195' gravel barge sunk on June 12 on the Ocean City Reef at 27017.1 / 42907.5. Sponsored by Hays Tug and Launch and the Artificial Reef Association.
Every 2 years, divers will retrieve 3 of the habitats. Organisms will be trapped by encasing the habitats in fine-mesh nylon bags. All of the marine life living on the habitats will be removed, identified and weighed to obtain detailed information concerning the importance of reef structures in providing habitat for marine animals of all life stages.
Reef Material | Patch Reefs Built in 1997 | Total Patch Reefs Built 1984-1997 |
Tire units | 4 | 227 |
Concrete | 1 | 159 |
Vessels, barges | 10 | 100 |
Army vehicles | 85 | 226 |
Rock | 2 | 392 |
Other | - | 13 |
Total | 102 | 1,117 |
We are now systematically running from reef to reef to obtain GPS coordinates for each of our structures - over 1200 of them! The only way to get accurate GPS coordinates is to actually position a vessel over the structure. Mathematical conversions between GPS and LORAN that can be done by both LORAN and GPS computers are just not accurate enough ot find a wreck on the sea floor.
Eventually, reef charts sold by the Artificial Reef Association will depict both LORAN and GPS grids and coordinates so you will be able to find the reefs no matter which navigational coordinates you use. We expect the new charts to be available in the spring of 1999.
Structure | Latitude | Longitude |
Billy D | 4006220 | 7341855 |
Jerry | 3937757 | 7400828 |
The Fisherman | 4007930 | 7355942 |
Ocean Wreck Divers III | 4000587 | 7359555 |
Captain Ed Schmidiger | 4001832 | 7359677 |
BHMTC III | 3928816 | 7411545 |
BHMTC IV | 3928444 | 7410349 |
LTC Callahan | 3945368 | 7401321 |
Colonel Probasco | 3944782 | 7401362 |
The ARA has raised most of its funds through the sale of Reef T-shirts and Reef Charts. Donations from individuals and fishing and diving clubs are particularly helpful. If your club would like to sponsor the sinking of a vessel on a reef, contact:
ARA |
Federal