Monday, March 24, 2008; Posted: 02:49 PM
The city holds the title to the vessel, and if the deadline is not met, "the city will turn the title over to the lending institutions and the ship will be sold for scrap," Verge wrote in a letter to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto.
Verge said he'll ask his fellow commissioners to approve the deadline when they meet April 1, the deadline he wants.
He said he's looking to the state for the money, specifically the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. It's the last resort "unless some sugar daddy steps up and pays the rest."
"The state hasn't put one dime into this yet," Verge told the Keynoter. "And yet they're the main beneficiary on this."
According to Verge, the city's Tallahassee lobbyist firm, Gray/Robinson Attorneys at Law, is trying to make it happen.
"We have talked to [the tourism office] about that, and we are waiting for a response," said Ed Scales, a local attorney with Gray/Robinson.
According to Verge, the Vandenberg is only a piece of the state's new tourism plan.
"The state would like to sink 10 more ships around Florida to keep the tourists here for a longer period of time," he said.
The city deadline was set because of towing limitations.
"Time is of the essence due to towing dates and hurricane season," Verge wrote. "The Coast Guard will not allow a tow after June 1," because hurricane season begins.
On top of the city's financial worries, the Department of Environmental Protection introduced more mitigative requirements for the ship before it can be scuttled and made an artificial reef. Those include, according to Verge, dry-docking the ship twice to clean the hull before it's scuttled as an artificial reef.
With a total cost of now more than $8 million, the project is being financed by the city of Key West, Monroe County, the county Tourist Development Council, U.S. Maritime Administration, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and local banks.
The city, county and TDC have pledged the funds, but no transactions will occur until the 520-foot ship is on the ocean bottom.
"Of course, the TDC has $1 million allocated to the ship, which cannot be released until the ship goes down as an artificial reef," TDC Director Harold Wheeler said.
Asked if the TDC would consider contributing more, Wheeler said, "We feel as though the million we've invested in it is a good investment."
Not only does the vessel need to sink, it needs to sink correctly.
The 510-foot Spiegel Grove ran into complications in 2002 when it was sunk in 134 feet of water near Dixie Shoal off Key Largo. That vessel unintentionally rolled upside down. It's since been righted.
"If these guys can't pull it off, they get no funds," Verge said.
Reefmakers is contracted to scuttle the vessel for Artificial Reefs of the Florida Keys.
Managers of the 10-year project say the 14,300-ton former military vessel will be towed from its shipyard in Norfolk, Va., where it's been cleaned out and prepared for scuttling.
Joe Weatherby of Reefmakers announced a sinking date of May 15 in late January.
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