| Diving in Key West
Vandenberg ship sinking a go
Local bank owner's last-minute $1.3M saves the artificial reef project
The Vandenberg is coming to Key West.
In a last-minute decision, First State Bank of the Florida Keys, along with Jack Spottswood, whose family is part owner of the bank, agreed to buy the ship for $1.35 million at a public auction in Virginia Wednesday morning.
After 11 years, $8.3 million and countless obstacles, the 524-foot-long former military ship will be sunk as an artificial reef off the shores of Key West this spring.
The ship was for sale through the auction after Colonna's Shipyard in Norfolk, Va., had placed a lien on it for unpaid bills. Other debtors with claims against the ship have been working with local banks to settle the bill.
The $1.35 million purchase price will go to a federal judge in Virginia to distribute among the claimants, said City Commissioner Bill Verge, who took the lead on the project several months ago and has been working to complete it.
"First State Bank provided the funding to protect the interests of Monroe County and the city of Key West," Verge said on Wednesday from Norfolk. "There were quite a few bids on the ship, one from Colonna's shipyard, some from reefers in Delaware, and some from scrappers, but once the price got above the scrap price, they dropped out. The ship is now free and clear and under the ownership of the city of Key West."
The city previously had agreed to hold title to the ship, and Spottswood left it in the city's name.
Verge said he expects the ship to arrive in Key West sometime around February. It will spend six weeks moored at the East Quay Wall at Truman Waterfront before it is scuttled in the spring.
"I think we have a commitment to the community of Key West and the Florida Keys," Spottswood said Wednesday while boarding a plane back to Key West. "And we wanted this ship sunk here, not somewhere else, or sold for scrap."
Once the ship is on the ocean floor attracting marine life, the city of Key West, Monroe County and the Tourist Development Council will have to pony up the money they committed to the project upon its completion. The city will pay $1.3 million, the county will pay $2 million and the tourism council will pay $1 million.
An additional $2.6 million from the state of Florida, which Key West city commissioners formally accepted last week, will pay for the final cleaning, travel, preparations and sinking costs, Verge said.
Joe Weatherby, a boat captain and scuba diver, dreamed up the Vandenberg project more than a decade ago.
On Wednesday, a local bank and a local family made his dream come true.
"I'm ecstatic," Weatherby said from Norfolk. "I'm as excited as I've ever been in my whole life."
It was unclear whether the USS Hoyt S. Vandenberg will take on a different name upon its sinking.
By MANDY BOLEN Citizen Staff 12/18/08
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Spiny Lobster
A popular creature here in the Keys. Lobster Season runs from August to March.
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Coral Reef
Whether you dive, snorkel or would enjoy it by glassbottom boat, the reef has lots to offer.
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Parrotfish
One of the most colorful fish inhabiting our reefs!
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