Artificial reef falling apart
Former New York tugboat, sunk in Lee waters in 1999, rusting away
BY MICHELLE _L. _START Florida Weekly Correspondent

Built in the 1920s and originally used in New York Harbor, the tug boat Pegasus was sunk off the coast of Lee County in 1999 to provide an artificial reef.

Salt water, poorly constructed welding seems, low grade steel, waves and rough weather are taking a toll on one of Lee County's artificial reefs.

"The Pegasus is falling apart," said Sanibel resident Caroline Semerjian, 37, who recently dove the wreck. "It is disintegrating in the salt water. I'm guessing the metals way back when, compared to today, were probably not top quality."

The upper sections of the Pegasus tug boat have collapsed, but the hull and main deck remain intact.

Lee County natural resources supervisor Chris Koepfer said the problem is that the upper portion of the tug boat, which was built in the 1920s and originally used in the New York Harbor, was constructed with 1/8-inch steel. In comparison, the steel on the hull is several inches thick.

"Naturally steel is going to deteriorate in salt water. It doesn't last forever. We expected it to deteriorate over time, but I kind of hoped that it would last at least 10 years," said Koepfer. "There is no longer a cabin to swim through. Basically, it rusts away, but there is no toxicity to the rust."

The hull of the tug boat Pegasus is still entact, the upper sections of the superstructure have collapsed.

The Pegasus was sunk off Redfish Pass in July 1999. It had been a ticket office in Matanzas Harbor for a gambling ship, but when that ship left town, it fell into disuse and docking fees accumulated. The owner donated the tug boat to the county for the artificial reef program.

Volunteers stripped carpeting, wood, light fixtures and anything hazardous out of the tug boat. Workers were contracted to do an asbestos survey, towing and then the sinking for a total price of $30,000.

Since its deployment, time may have worn away at the upper levels of the tug boat, but the elements have also ensured that it is firmly anchored in place.

"The keel has wedged itself into the limestone of the sea bed. It is very stable. All of the weight of the boat pushed the keel into the limestone," said Koepfer.

It is the only large vessel ever sunk as a part of Lee County's artificial reef program, it sits in 90 feet of water. There is about 25 feet of clearance between the surface and the top of the tug boat. It is home to at least 18 species of fish.

The artificial reef program has been in existence since 1990.

Koepfer said Lee County officials had been hoping to obtain a retired naval vessel following the sinking of the U.S.S. Spiegel Grove off Key Largo and the U.S.S. Oriskany off Pensacola. They had even obtained a permit to sink such a vessel in 115 feet of water 45 miles due west of Redfish Pass, but it has since become cost prohibitive.

"The Navy has said they will continue doing it, but local entities will have to pony up a significant amount of money to do that," Koepfer said. "We¿re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars. That kind of support is not easy to come by. We would need a corporate sponsorship."

He said that, or local donations, appear unlikely because the artificial reef would be so far away.

"It would be nice to have, but there are some realities that make it a difficult sale," Koepfer said.