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The HMCS Annapolis (DDH 265) was arrested by creditors on April 23, 2013. This move provides court oversight of the vessel while Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia (ARSBC) and its creditors work out a plan of payment or the sale of the ship.
California Ships to Reefs (CSTR) learned of the arrest earlier this week (www.nsnews.com) (www.artificialreef.bc.ca) and considering how many volunteer hours have been put into the project, decided to look into how we can help to be sure the vessel is reefed and not scrapped. This could include the viability of bringing the ship to California. Two potential reef sites have been previously selected for ship-based reefs and teams can be created in both locations, should the vessel become available through court sale.
“The policy changes at the Maritime Administration (MARAD) make it virtually impossible to obtain a vessel from the “Mothball Fleet” in the near future,” said Andy Lee, CSTR’s Chairman of the Board. “It’s a shame that we can potentially obtain a Canadian vessel and not one from our own government.”
The Annapolis is virtually identical in design to the HMCS Yukon which was reefed in San Diego in 2000. Annapolis is 366 ft long, 42 ft wide and displaces almost 3500 tons. She has been partially prepared in Canada by thousands of volunteers over the last 5 years when ARSBC purchased her from the Canadian Royal Navy. Reefing the vessel in Canada has been fraught with multiple set-backs, the most recent a lack of funding to complete the project. This is not dissimilar to what happened with the USAF General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, when the project went over budget (hamptonroads.com/2011/07/norfolk-shipyard-out-11-million-after-failed-reef-case) (www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20FDCO%2020081028753.xml).
CSTR will launch a fundraising campaign to obtain the Annapolis should she become available through a Canadian court sale.
“We are seeking donations of any size from the general public and will also solicit donations for naming rights, and other high level donations, as well as grants from appropriate agencies and non-profits,” said Eleanore Rewerts, CSTR’s Executive Director. “We will announce special donation plans should CSTR decide to attempt rescue from the court.” To help the potential Annapolis project, make your donation at the CSTR website: www.californiashipstoreefs.org.
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CSTR Hits the Road to Save Ships to Reefs in the U.S.
Live from the Fred Hall show, the Philip Freedman show, including an interview with our own Dean Rewerts!
As the future of artificial reefing in California and the U.S. faces great challenges, we hope you will join us fighting to make changes in Washington DC. We are vigorously working to reverse the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) recent decision which eliminates all National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels from consideration as artificial reefs. MARAD’s policy change removed the previously approved Kawishiwi from our plans for reefing. We started an iPetition and letter writing campaign to Congress and White House, protesting this change and we’re lobbying to change the federal law which prevents MARAD and the Navy from communicating, negotiating and contracting with non-governmental organizations such as CSTR.
CSTR needs all its supporters now to help us chart the future for artificial reefing. Your tax deductible contributions bring economic benefits to your industry and your community as new reefs create greater diving, fishing and other recreational opportunities. The monetary and merchandise donations you give are only one way to be part of the adventure. We ask you to also sign the iPetition here on our website and/or write to your own Congressional delegation and the Whitehouse using the sample letter link.
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Please sign CSTR's iPetition
Or you can email or fax your own letter to the
Whitehouse and your Congressional Delegation.
Click here for a sample.
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SEATTLE, Washington, Sept. 6, 2012 - The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD)
has adopted a new policy that effectively terminates the federal artificial reefing program that allowed the scuttling of old ships for so-called "artificial reefs" – a practice that dates back to the Liberty Ship Act of 1972.
Read more here.
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