jgeldin
California Ships To Reef
Pete always tells me that I should be posting California Ships to Reefs news here. I'm sorry that I'm starting with this. Here's the story and a link to the CSTR website...
Feds Say Kawishiwi No Longer a Sink Option
California Ships to Reefs Proposes New Ship
Plans to make the USS Kawishiwi the next artificial reef in California ended this month when the
U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) withdrew the ship from the list of vessels considered
suitable for reefing.
California Ships to Reefs (CSTR) had been working vigorously to obtain the ship for reefing on
a site southwest of Dana Point Harbor. The Kawishiwi is a retired fleet oiler currently docked in
Suisun Bay with other decommissioned naval vessels. CSTRs plan to reef the ship had the
cooperation of the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and MARAD previously
said the Kawishiwi was suitable and available for artificial reefing.
But in a reversal of that decision, MARAD told CDFG in a May 31 letter that it had revised its
policies and the Kawishiwi is now committed to the ship recycling program. The agency is now
excluding all vessels likely to contain Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and/or those vessels
that are within the 24-month planning window for disposal through dismantling/recycling.
CSTR quickly determined that the one ship in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet that meets the new
criteria is the USS Willamette, a more recent vintage fleet oiler that does not have PCBs. CSTR
has already begun the process to have the Willamette approved for reefing at the same Dana
Point site.
Its disappointing that we wont be able to use the Kawishiwi, said Ron Springer, CSTRs
project team leader for the Dana Point reefing site. But on the other hand, the Willamette will
require less work to prepare for sinking. Its also a little longer, which is exciting to me. I hope
MARAD and the CDFG can work with us to get this project done.
Joel Geldin, CSTRs Chairman and CEO, noted that the new MARAD criteria will allay
concerns about any potential environmental contamination. We have always made ocean safety
the top priority in our reefing plans and were willing to move forward with MARAD, working
with whatever standards they require.
Its unfortunate the Kawishiwi was removed from consideration after MARADs previous
approval and after so many of our volunteers and the Kawishiwis own veteran crew members
invested their time, energy and support in this project, Geldin said. It was our hope to give the
Kawishiwi new life as an under seas monument to her crew. But we will move ahead with our
plans for the Willamette.
CSTRs mission to create new ocean life along the California coastline continues, Geldin
affirmed. We will pursue other opportunities for reefing whether they are ship-based, or using
other materials he said.
California Ships to Reefs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation seeking to reef
surplus ships as artificial reefs, bringing diving and fishing tourism to local ports in California
and enhancing the ocean environment. For more information, contact Dean A. Rewerts, VP Reef
Development at 530-906-6465 or visit www.californiashipstoreefs.org.
###
Feds Say Kawishiwi No Longer a Sink Option
California Ships to Reefs Proposes New Ship
Plans to make the USS Kawishiwi the next artificial reef in California ended this month when the
U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) withdrew the ship from the list of vessels considered
suitable for reefing.
California Ships to Reefs (CSTR) had been working vigorously to obtain the ship for reefing on
a site southwest of Dana Point Harbor. The Kawishiwi is a retired fleet oiler currently docked in
Suisun Bay with other decommissioned naval vessels. CSTRs plan to reef the ship had the
cooperation of the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and MARAD previously
said the Kawishiwi was suitable and available for artificial reefing.
But in a reversal of that decision, MARAD told CDFG in a May 31 letter that it had revised its
policies and the Kawishiwi is now committed to the ship recycling program. The agency is now
excluding all vessels likely to contain Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and/or those vessels
that are within the 24-month planning window for disposal through dismantling/recycling.
CSTR quickly determined that the one ship in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet that meets the new
criteria is the USS Willamette, a more recent vintage fleet oiler that does not have PCBs. CSTR
has already begun the process to have the Willamette approved for reefing at the same Dana
Point site.
Its disappointing that we wont be able to use the Kawishiwi, said Ron Springer, CSTRs
project team leader for the Dana Point reefing site. But on the other hand, the Willamette will
require less work to prepare for sinking. Its also a little longer, which is exciting to me. I hope
MARAD and the CDFG can work with us to get this project done.
Joel Geldin, CSTRs Chairman and CEO, noted that the new MARAD criteria will allay
concerns about any potential environmental contamination. We have always made ocean safety
the top priority in our reefing plans and were willing to move forward with MARAD, working
with whatever standards they require.
Its unfortunate the Kawishiwi was removed from consideration after MARADs previous
approval and after so many of our volunteers and the Kawishiwis own veteran crew members
invested their time, energy and support in this project, Geldin said. It was our hope to give the
Kawishiwi new life as an under seas monument to her crew. But we will move ahead with our
plans for the Willamette.
CSTRs mission to create new ocean life along the California coastline continues, Geldin
affirmed. We will pursue other opportunities for reefing whether they are ship-based, or using
other materials he said.
California Ships to Reefs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation seeking to reef
surplus ships as artificial reefs, bringing diving and fishing tourism to local ports in California
and enhancing the ocean environment. For more information, contact Dean A. Rewerts, VP Reef
Development at 530-906-6465 or visit www.californiashipstoreefs.org.
###
