Artificial reefing has many benefits that include:
- • Enhancing ecological resources by increasing the amount of productive hard-bottom habitat.
- • Using artificial reefs as marine protected and conservation areas.
- • Using artificial reefs to provide recreational fishing and diving.
- • Increasing tourism and commercial activities associated with fishing and diving on the reef.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is near completion of national guidance document entitled Best Management Practices for Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial Reefs. The scope of work to prepare a ship for sinking as an artificial reef includes:
- • The removal and disposal of liquid hydrocarbons (fuels and oils) throughout the ship.
- • Removal and disposal of any loose or detached friable asbestos containing material.
- • Removal and disposal of all capacitors, transformers, or other liquid PCB containing components.
- • Sweep-up and disposal of all loose paint accumulated on deck surfaces.
- • Removal and disposal of all trash, loose debris, cleaning materials, and any floatable materials.
- • Removal and disposal of batteries, halons, mercury, antifreeze, coolants and extinguishing agents.
- • Removal of black and gray water, and chromated ballast water.
The scope of work to prepare a ship for sinking is a subset of the skills that are presently utilized by ISL to dismantle ships for the Navy, Maritime Administration and private industry. ISL is highly confident that it will be able to prepare a ship for sinking in full accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Best Management Practices and in full compliance with all regulations.
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the U.S. Navy each have an inventory of obsolete vessels that may be available for transfer for use as artificial reefs. Additionally, the General Services Administration (GSA) may transfer small vessels and craft (i.e., under 1,500 tons) that are obtained from the Navy, USCG, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and other federal agencies to States for use as artificial reefs or other purposes.
Public Law 108-136 section 1013 (10 U.S.C. 7306b) provides the Navy with the authority to transfer any vessel stricken from the Naval Vessel Register to any state, commonwealth, possession of the U.S., or any municipal corporation or political subdivision thereof, for use as an artificial reef. Public Law 92-402 (16 U.S.C. 1220, et. seq.) provides the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), under the Department of Transportation, to transfer obsolete ships to any state for use as an artificial reef. This authority was amended by Public Law 107-314 section 3504 to allow MARAD to provide financial assistance to states for environmental preparation, towing, and/or sinking and by Public Law 108-136 section 3516 to allow MARAD to transfer obsolete vessels to U.S. territories and foreign countries for use as artificial reefs.
P.L. 108-136 provides that the Navy may share with the recipient any of the costs associated with transferring the vessel for use as an artificial reef. As part of their application for transfer of Naval vessels for reefing, States may offer a cost-sharing proposal that will be considered as part of the best value analysis for selection of the donee. Due to the substantial economic benefits derived by States from ship reefs, cost-sharing proposals may become an integral factor in the transferring of naval warships for reefing.
Source: http://peoships.crane.navy.mil/
