“Beyond benefiting marine life, the sinking of the Radford at the Del-Jersey-Land site will enhance the coastal economies of the three states through recreational fishing and diving,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “Sharing the Radford as reefing with our sister states also is a boon in moving forward with Delaware’s own internationally-acclaimed artificial reef program.”

Delaware Governor Jack Markell also hailed what the sinking stands for: “Expanding artificial reefs in Delaware waters is good for our environment and our economy,” Gov. Markell said. “Projects like this link our environmental health to what Delaware’s doing economically in creating new fish habitat. When the Radford is sunk onto the Del-Jersey-Land Reef, Delaware will be baiting a hook for both environmental and economic opportunity.”

This will be the first multi-state reefing effort since the site was permitted in 2006 with the purpose of joint development by the three states’ reef programs. Funding for the ship’s transportation, clean-up, preparation, sinking and monitoring will be shared among the three states and the Navy.

The Navy announced the availability of the Radford for reefing in January of 2008. In order to apply for the retired warship, the Delaware Reef Program advertised for contractors and American Marine Group, a Virginia-based marine towing, salvage and reefing company, was the successful bidder. The company, which has extensive experience reefing ships in the Atlantic, will clean, prepare, tow and sink the Radford. The work will be completed at a commercial facility in the Philadelphia area.

“Delaware is looking forward to initiating the reefing process,” said Jeffrey Tinsman, manager of the Delaware Reef Program of DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. “The Radford is an exceptionally good reefing candidate and we expect the preparation of the ship for artificial reefing to be completed in a timely and cost-effective manner. We are excited about adding this great vessel to a mid-Atlantic reef site that’s accessible from ports in three states.”

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