Stripped of all its rigging, engine, and deck surface, a modern-day “ghost ship” will soon become part an underwater fish habitat and diver’s paradise.
It’s been 2 years of planning and work preparing this ghost ship for its final voyage.
Early Tuesday morning, boats will leave the dock in Hernando Beach with a mission to sink it, 20 miles out into the gulf.
A 20 minute boat ride brings us to the white hull.
Built in 1984 in California, she sailed off the coast of Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas.
“There’s a gentleman at the marina, an old timer that says he knows the original owner, and that boat had been involved in, we’ll just say some questionable cargo hauling” said Hernando Port Authority Chairman, Frank Santo.
Volunteers worked long hours making the ghost ship suitable for sinking.
They removed the diesel engine, hallowed out the hull, and stripped the decking.
It will join 10 army tanks and other items on the bottom of the gulf.
“The wrecks bring a lot of divers. They’re exciting to dive on. You see a lot of fish down there. Wrecks are basically an oasis for marine life” said Keith Kolasa, Hernando County Waterways Manager.
Part of the preparation included making the wreck safe for turtles to escape.
Fish will think the ghost ship is a luxury condo.
“In a wreck, they go inside to get out of the current, and also to feed on the smaller minnows that are in there. And then the bigger fish come and get the medium sized fish , and before you know it, you have a complete habitat” said Frank Santo.
The ghost ship spent 14 years at the Hernando Beach marina. Water will be pumped inside to sink it.
Bets are: it will take about a half hour to go down.
