Heritage Hull / Dr Tom's ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Heritage Hull / Dr Tom's

Type:: artificial reef, cutter, US Coast Guard
Specs:: ( 120 x 22 ft )
Sponsor:: The Natoli family
Dedication:: Dr Tom
Sunk:: Thursday September 20, 2001 - Cape May Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°51.810' -74°40.590'

This was a prototype hull that was rejected by the Coast Guard.

Artificial Reef Sites, Artificial Reefs, Cape May Artificial Reef, Coast Guard Artificial Reefs, New Jersey Artificial Reef Sites, New Jersey Artificial Reefs,

The United States Coast Guard has donated a number of vessels as artificial reefs over the years. They seem to be sensitive about having their vessels shown in a "bad" way, and typically paint out all the markings before turning them over.

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John S Dempster Jr. (FS-355)

Type:: artificial reef, freighter, purse seiner
Built:: 1944, JK Welding - Yonkers NY, as FS-355 (US Army)
Specs:: ( 166 x 32 ft ) 542 tons
Sunk:: Thursday, Jan 21, 2021 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.340' -74°30.671'
Depth:: 125 ft

John S Dempster Jr. is sister to Shearwater and Reedville, see those vessels for details, links in the sidebar. All three vessels were originally small Army transports, converted to Menhaden fishing by Omega Protein company. FS-355 was USCG-manned, and retained by USA as PVT Carl V. Sheridan (see below) until sold in 1972.

The aging Shearwater and Reedville were retired when Omega got two new modern vessels in 2017, but Dempster was kept as a reserve. Finally, almost 80 years old, the Dempster was sent to her reward as well. Another sister, Tangier Island, was reefed off Georgia in 2020. As of 2023, one old sister remains - Smuggler's Point, FS-400, launched in 1944!

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