Created: 7/24/2009 1:48:10 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL--A tug boat has been sunk 25 miles off the coast of Mayport on Friday the 17 July 2009 at Harm's Ledge. A site study was conducted and the bottom conditions were perfect for an artificial reef.
The tug boat Spike sits at a depth of about 100 feet. This depth was chosen because there must be at least 50 feet clearance for boats to pass above. About 24 boats were out to watch the sinking of Spike. The US Coast Guard's Kingfisher brought out the folks from Safe Harbor Boys Home. This was the home for the tug for many years. Students lived in Spike and it served as an office. Safe Harbor donated the tug to The Jacksonville Artificial Reef program in order to make room. The boys are now living in individual boats that are donated to the non-profit.
Navy choppers, JSO, and JFRD were on hand to assist the sinking. At first it looked as if Spike would never sink. It took almost 2 hours to go down. Valves and ports were opened to allow water to fill the inside. After a while Fire boats hosed down the tug by pumping water aboard. It went under on her starboard, but managed to rest on the bottom upright. It took just a few hours for fish to find the wreck. Spadefish schooled in the bridge and a starfish climbed high on the tugs deck.
Sue Wilcox is a marine biologist who dove the wreck right after it went under. "It is a bittersweet. We were successful - the goal was to deploy a new artificial reef. So many people put so much heart, blood, and soul into making this happen - and now she resides on the ocean floor. I may be in mourning! I think I actually cried while I was diving her".
WW Gay for donating the crane services to lift Spike from land into the water. Holes were welded shut so the Spike could float out to sea pushed by a tug. More artificial reefs are planned in the near future off of Duval County.
The GPS coordinates are: North 30.22.531 West 80.53.689
Below are links provided by Larry Davis, Joe Kistel, Tim Kistel, and the JOSFC.
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