MV TWIN CAPES

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Ferry sunk as artificial reef

The decommissioned ferry "Twin Capes" was pulled by the tug "Justin" from Coleen Marine's shipyard in Norfolk on June 13 to its final resting place in the Del-Jersey-Land Inshore Artificial Reef. She was sunk on June 15 to become part of Delaware’s artificial reef system. The ferry went down at 11:55 a.m., having sunk by the Norfolk-based marine contractor Coleen Marine, which bought the ferry from the Delaware River and Bay Authority last year for reefing. The "Twin Capes" joined the Del-Jersey-Land reef’s submerged fleet that includes the ex-destroyer USS "Arthur W. Radford", which went down in 2011 as the longest ship reefed on the East Coast, and the "Zuni/Tamaroa", the one-time harbor tug and Battle of Iwo Jima survivor turned US Coast Guard cutter that plied Atlantic waters for almost 50 years. The ferry capsized to port side and went down stern first within six minutes. She may be the best addition yet to Delaware’s artificial reef system for both fishing and recreational diving opportunities. Reports with photos and videos: http://www.delaware-surf-fishing.com/mv-twin-capes-now-part-del-jersey-land-reef http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018/06/watch_its_travels_over_ferry_slips_beneath_the_sea.html http://www.wboc.com/story/38435251/former-cape-may-lewes-ferry-twin-capes-sunk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm1R-TYAZHU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkBoprkWC9k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAgSJ__vtl0

Former ferry prepared to be sunk as artificial reef

The scheduled sinking of the "Twin Capes" will take place on June 15, 2018, as it becomes part of an artificial reef - the Del-Jersey-Land Inshore Artificial Reef - in the Atlantic Ocean off the shorelines of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The ferry left Coleen Marine's shipyard in Norfolk in the early evening of June 13, pulled by the tug "Justin" for its last trip after having been stripped down and cleaned beyond the national standards for vessels to be sunk as reefs. The "Twin Capes" was purchased by Coleen Marine from the Delaware River and Bay Authority, the Cape May ferry's operator, for $200,000 after the vessel was declared as surplus and the authority could not find a buyer. Contributions from private and federal sources were paying for the work to prepare the ferry and its eventual sinking. For the past 11 months the vessel has been at the Coleen Marine shipyard being prepared to become part of the reef. The ferry was so solidly constructed that it actually made more work for the Coleen Marine crew to strip it down to the steel shell. All furnishings, machinery, oil, fuel and anything that can float was removed. The ferry was heavily cleaned to be sure there was nothing still aboard that could contaminate the ocean waters. Once the "Twin Capes" has arrived at the sinking site, holes will be cut in the hull above the water line. Then, valves will be opened to let water flow into the vessel, forcing it to slip below the water line and the sea flow in. It was expected the "Twin Capes" will sink stern first as it travels 130 feet down to its final resting place. The DRBA salvaged about $200,000 worth of items from the "Twin Capes" that could be used in other vessels in its fleet. The ferry will join several other vessels in the reef including the destroyer USS "Arthur W. Radford" and the "Zuni/Tamaroa". The reef which is comprised of about seven vessels, attracts a wide variety of marine life including tuna, shark and even seasonally, barracudas. It is located at a point 26 nautical miles due east of Indian River, Del., equal distances from Cape May, Lewes, Del., and Ocean City, Md. Report with photos: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018/06/former_cape_may_ferry_set_for_final_trip_to_bottom.html

Ferry to be scuttled as artificial reef

The former ferry "Twin Capes" is getting ready for one last sailing that will end at the bottom of the ocean in May 2018. The vessel, which once plied the waters between Cape May and Lewes, Del., was to be sunk in the Atlantic Ocean sometime in May to become part of an artificial reef aimed at boosting marine life and join others that make up the Del-Jersey-Land Reef located at a point 26 miles in the ocean from Cape May, Indian River, Del., and Ocean City, Md. The ferry was declared surplus in 2010 by its operator, the Delaware River and Bay Authority. The "Twin Capes" was last used for passenger and vehicle service in 2013. Unable to sell the vessel to another ferry service, the DRBA decided to let it be used for the reef. The artificial reef project to benefit the divers and sport fishermen of Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland. Report with photo: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2018/04/on_this_sailing_officials_want_to_see_ferry_sink.html