Vandenberg Fact Summary; Sinking Set For May 27th Off Key West, Florida
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The Vandenberg is scheduled to be sunk May 27th off Key West, Florida
KEY WEST, Florida -- Project organizers, coordinating the transformation of a retired missile-tracking ship into an artificial reef off Key West, said Friday they hope to sink the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg May 27.
"Our sink window opens Wednesday, May 27, and that's the date we're currently targeting," said Jim Scholl, Key West's city manager and project administrator. "However, there are factors that could delay the scuttling, including weather and other unforeseen circumstances."
The 523-foot-long ship that once tracked spacecraft blastoffs from Cape Canaveral as well as Russian missile launches during the Cold War is currently in Key West Harbor undergoing final preparations to be scuttled. The day before the scheduled sinking, the ship is to be towed and anchored at a predetermined site situated seven miles south of Key West in 140 feet of water.
A time for the sinking has not yet been set, but it is likely to be in late morning, officials said.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Coast Guard, are to enforce a 500-yard perimeter around the ship during the transit from Key West Harbor to the sink site. For the sinking, a one-mile perimeter is to be enforced on the water and in the air. No unauthorized vessels or aircraft will be permitted within those perimeters.
Following the scuttling, an assessment will be made to ensure the vessel has landed on the bottom properly and then Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary officials are to begin installing mooring buoys. After the buoys are installed, the wreck can open to sport divers, sanctuary officials said.
More than 70 percent of the project's $8.6 million cost has gone to ridding the vessel of contaminants so the Vandenberg can be sunk without adversely impacting the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Reader Comments
1 person has commented so far.I SERVED IN THE MARINE DETATCHMENT FROM MAY 1944 TO MAY 1946 SHE WAS THEN THEN THE GENERAL HARRY TAYLOR AP145 WE TRANSPORTED TROOPS FROM CALIFORNIA TO VARIOUS ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC WE ALSO BROUGHT BACK WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO WERE HELD IN THE SANTO THOMAS PRISON CAMP IN MANILA WE THEN WENT THROUGH PANAMA CANAL TO NEW YORK CITY MARSEILE AND LE HAVRE FRANCE. WE WERE HEADED BACCK TO THE PANAMA CANAL WITH A LOAD OF SOLDIERS FROM MARSEILES TO FIGHT IN THE INVASION OF JAPAN WHEN THE BOMB WAS DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA THE NEXT DAY THE CAPTAIN GOT ON THE HORN AND TOLD EVERYBODY "WATCH THE SUN AS WE TURN TO NEW YORK" IT WAS AVERY THRILLING MOMENT WE ALSO WENT TGHROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL TO KARACHI INDIA THESE WERE THE MOST MEMORABLE TIMES OF MY LIFE I ENTERED THE US MARINE CORPS IN1943 WHEN I WAS 18 AND I WAS DISCHARGED IN 1946 WHEN I WAS 20 YRS. WHEN I LEFT THE HARRY TAYLOR I NEVER DREAMED THAT SHE WOULD THE FUTURE LIFE HAS HAD AND WILL COTINUE TO HAVE IF THERE ARE ANY SHIPMATES THAT REMMBER ME I HAVE A EMAIL ADDRESS "jolosam78 @aol.com I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANY ONE FROM WHO WOULD LIKE TO TALK I ENJOYED THE FACT THE OLD GIRL WAS IN A MOVIE . THIS IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND I THANK THLORD I WAS GIVEN THE HONOR TO SERVE HER . ALSO IF ANY ONE WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ALL SHIPMATES GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES SKI
- JOHN W SIEROSLAWSKI (SKI) · MILLBROOK IL USA · May 25, 2009 @ 10:19am