Early New Jersey Artificial Reefs

Dykes

These seven sites on the Sea Girt Artificial Reef predate the state-run reef program:

Sea Girt Artificial Reef

Informal reef-building took place all along the coast for decades, but these are the only sites for which records exist.




Cranford reef
In life, July 1939. At this time, CRRNJ ferries were painted overall dark green. Notice how it says MEN on one side and WOMEN on the other.
Type:
artificial reef, ferry, Central Railroad of New Jersey, USA
( sometimes incorrectly identified as a barge )
Name:
All CRRNJ ferries were named for New Jersey towns - Lakewood, Bound Brook, Red Bank, Plainfield, Elizabeth, Wilkes Barre, Cranford, Somerville, Westfield, and Bound Brook
Built:
1905, Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington DE USA
Specs:
( 191 x 44 ft ) 1197 tons
Sponsor:
Ashley Development Corporation
Sunk:
Tuesday March 30, 1982 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
GPS:
40°07.447' -73°56.227'
Depth:
70 ft


Dykes reef
Type:
artificial reef, schooner barge, USA
( The small smokestack in the pictures is for an electrical generator. )
Built:
1919, Union Shipbuilding, Baltimore MD USA
Specs:
( 306 x 35 ft ) 2072 tons, 14 crew
Sponsor:
Modern Transportation Co.
Sunk:
July 1983 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
GPS:
40°06.964' -73°57.571'
Depth:
65 ft



Leatherback Sea Turtle

Dermochelys coriacea

Size: to 70" and 1200 lbs.

Habitat: oceanic

Notes: The largest sea turtle in the world, and also the most likely to be seen in our cold waters, since Leatherbacks are at least partially warm-blooded! As implied by the name, they have a leathery flexible covering, rather than the bony hard shell of all other sea turtles - a unique feature that has caused them to be placed in a family of their own, apart from all other sea turtles. Leatherbacks feed on jellyfish.