Sea Transporter YF-879

YF-879 - March 1975
Type:
artificial reef, trawler, USA
Specs:
( 133 x 30 ft )
Built:
1945, American Bridge, Ambridge PA, as YF-879
Sponsor:
Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association, Atlantic Cape Fisheries, Artificial Reef Association
Sunk:
Friday August 21, 1992 - Cape May Artificial Reef
GPS:
38°53.118' -74°40.190'
Depth:
70 ft
Sea Transporter - October 1975

YF-879 was sold by the Navy in 1974 and became marine survey ship Sea Transporter. By 1977 the vessel had been moved from southern California to Port Arthur Texas for a government study in the Gulf of Mexico, which was published in 1979. For the survey, Sea Transporter was equipped with side-scan sonar and underwater video cameras. Later the vessel was converted to commercial fishing, and finished its days in New Jersey. Exactly how it was modified for fishing is unclear, although it appears a deckhouse was added over the cargo hold.

YF-852 class covered lighter (self-propelled)

  • Displacement: 300 t.(lt) 650 t.(fl)
  • Length: 133'
  • Beam: 30'
  • Draft: 9'
  • Speed: 10 kts
  • Armament: none
  • Complement: one officer, ten enlisted
  • Propulsion: 2x 500hp diesel, twin screws

A large number of these small freighters were built during World War II, with slight variations to the design.

568087


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hurricane

The diving season in New Jersey begins in June for most of us. Hardy souls in drysuits will dive all year long, but with a good 7mm wetsuit, early June is still chilly. By late July the ocean has warmed up nicely, and it keeps getting warmer through September and doesn't really get cold again until October or even later.

So the peak dive season is June through November, right? Well, not quite. Early August starts hurricane season, and by late August it is in full swing. A couple of good storms and everything is so roiled up that there is almost no point in trying to dive anymore. That's not to say that there can't be a good year with no hurricanes. Barring storms, with a drysuit you could reasonably expect to dive from late April to early December.