SKIPPIN SUE

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Tug to be scuttled as artificial reef

Okaloosa County commissioners approved a $740,000 contract to transform the fire damaged passenger ship 'Spirit of Norfolk' (IMO: 8861618) into an artificial reef along with the 'Skippin Sue', in order to enhance local marine habitats and tourism. The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners approved a contract on July 16, 2024, for the acquisition, preparation, and deployment of the two vessels as artificial reefs off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The $740,000 contract with the Coleen Marine Inc. will fund the transformation of the passenger ship and the tug into underwater habitats for marine life. An additional $42,000 was approved as a weather contingency, bringing the total potential project cost to $782,000. The former dinner cruise vessel was damaged by fire beyond repair. The ship will provide nearly 40 feet of relief with a 16-foot mast, making it one of the highest-profile artificial reefs in the area. Following negotiations, a formal inspection was conducted in May, and during that inspection a second vessel,the 'Skippin Sue', was also identified as a potential reef. Due to mobilization and towing costs already being covered in the cost of the 'Spirit of Norfolk' project, the cost of the second vessel was lower than similar vessel projects, and it was determined that piggybacking this vessel on the existing project was in the best interest of the artificial reef program. The tug is slated for deployment in state waters less than nine miles offshore. Its lower profile makes it suitable for shallower depths in the nearshore artificial reef system, making it ideal for scuba diving and fishing opportunities. The new reefs will provide essential habitat for numerous fish species, further enhancing Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s reputation as a premier fishing and diving destination in Florida.