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Navy to Transfer Decommissioned Destroyer for Artificial Reefing

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090821-12
Release Date: 8/21/2009 2:35:00 PM

From Program Executive Office Ships Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy announced Aug. 20 that it will transfer the decommissioned destroyer ex-Arthur W. Radford to the state of Delaware for use as an artificial reef.

As an artificial reef, ex-Arthur W. Radford will benefit marine life, fishing and recreational diving.

"Although several other alternatives are also used to reduce the Navy's inventory of inactive ships, artificial reefing has many benefits," said Glen Clark, deputy program manager of the Navy Inactive Ships Program.

"Artificial reefs remove environmental risks caused by aging ships berthed in sensitive waterways and provide alternative reefs for recreational fishing and diving so that natural reefs can be protected and conserved. Artificial reefs can also benefit local communities by increasing tourism and commercial activities associated with fishing and diving on the reef."

The ex-Arthur W. Radford will ultimately be reefed at the jointly-developed Del-Jersey-Land Inshore Site, which is equidistant from Cape May, N.J., Ocean City, Md., and Indian River Inlet, Del. The site was permitted in 2006 and has an area of about one square mile and a depth of 120-130 feet.

In the coming weeks, Naval Sea Systems Command will coordinate and negotiate the details of a complete transfer agreement, including the timeline for reefing, before officially removing the ship from Navy custody.

As a part of the transfer agreement, a tri-state group of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey will accomplish environmental preparations on ex-Arthur W. Radford in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency's "National Guidance: Best Management Practices for Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial Reefs."

The states will be responsible for conducting all environmental preparations, complying with all applicable laws and regulations, performing the necessary actions associated with reefing the ship and monitoring and managing the ship as an artificial reef.

The ship was made available to all Gulf and Atlantic states in May 2008 using the Navy's reefing program application process, and the Navy received only the application from the tri-state group.

The ex-Arthur W. Radford is the Navy's second ship to be offered to Gulf and Atlantic states for artificial reefing under the authority provided by the fiscal year 2004 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 108-136). The first ship to be transferred, the decommissioned aircraft carrier ex-Oriskany, was successfully sunk off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., in May 2006.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.