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Tuesday, April 01, 2003

Posted 9:14 AM by Freddie


Cape Ann Approved for Decommissioned Aircraft Carrier Artificial Reef!

(Boston April 1, 2003) WCVB-TV reported this afternoon that the United States Navy and the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries, in conjunction with the City of Boston, Massport, and the Massachusetts Tourism Board, today announced that the decommissioned Aircraft Carrier USS Lake Champlain (CV/CVA/CVS-39) has been approved for use as an artificial reef off the coast of Rockport Mass.

This historic Ship, which served heroically during Word War II, also served as the "pick-up" ship for Commander Alan Sheppard and Freedom 7 – America's first manned space flight.

Plans are underway for a Labor Day 2003 sinking.

Divers will be particulalry excited about the ship's overall length of 1,088 feet. It stands 134 feet tall. Plans call for the ship to be set, right side up, in approximately 80 feet of water at 42.61W, 70.60N, just off Cape Hedge near Pebble Beach. It is expected to draw divers and fishing enthusiasts from around the world.

Since approximately 54 feet of the ships's tower will stand above the waterline, it should prove attractive to divers of all levels, and make a fine addition to the vistas found on the Cape Ann shores.

Dale Findlay, President of the New England Artifical Reef Society, and Angelo Correnti, long-time head of the Mass Council of Divers were taken by surprise. "This just came out of nowhere," said Correnti, "but of course I'm thrilled!" Findlay was unavailable for comment.

However Vin Malkoski from the Department of Marine Fisheries was less sanguine. Malkoski explained that despite the announcement, he had his doubts, "People have been trying to get something going of the coast of Massachusetts for years, and I've always told them that we need to do studies of the ocean floor and marine life - ecological impact kind of stuff - before we just go dropping battleships off the beach! I just don't see this happening, and I'm not sure these groups have gone through proper channels.

Malkoski also pointed out that today is April first and the NSF Webmaster is known to be a wise-ass.
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