Ranger ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Ranger

Type:: artificial reef, tugboat
Built:: 1975, Diamond Manufacturing, Savannah GA, USA, as Capt. Leary
Specs:: ( 53 x 18 ft ) 55 tons
Sunk:: Thursday Jan 14, 2021 - Manasquan Artificial Reef
GPS:: 40°04.784' -73°59.420'
Depth:: 75 ft

Built in 1975, by the Diamond Manufacturing Company of Savannah, Georgia (hull #404B) as the Capt. Leary, for Biblia Incorporated of Savannah, Georgia. Biblia later renamed the tug Josiah Stephen. In 2006, the tug was acquired by Intracoastal Marine Incorporated of Chesapeake, Virginia, where she was renamed Ranger. In 2009, she was acquired by the Skanska Group Incorporated of Virginia Beach, Virginia, where she retained her name. In 2016, the tug went out of documentation. Her current, and/or final disposition is unknown. She was a twin screw tug, rated at 680 horsepower.

tugboatinformation.com

The 65-foot tugboat Ranger was sunk at the Manasquan Inlet Reef. The deployment was sponsored by the Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club with donations from The Sportfishing Fund. This deployment was in memory of past Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club Lifetime Member John Geiges.

The *Ranger* was brought up from Norfolk on a barge that was sunk on the Little Egg Reef

The tug floats free as the barge is sunk. The smaller tug was sunk nearby.

Reported incorrectly as 65 feet by the reef program. It too a bit of sleuthing to track down a history for this one, Ranger is not a good search term, much like Smith. Now to see if I can track down that little tugboat.

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