New Jersey Artificial Reef Sites (2/18)

New Jersey Artificial Reefs

 1 2 3  18  

M60 tanks reef
M60 tanks undergo a thorough cleaning before use as reefs

The Artificial Reef Program used four types of obsolete Army armored vehicles as artificial reef materials off the New Jersey coast. These were cleaned at local military bases, loaded onto barges for transport, and pushed off at their final destination. Once the Army had disposed of its excess inventory, the program ceased, around 1999. The Artificial Reef Program has sunk almost 400 tanks altogether, far too many to list them here in this website.


Austin reef
Type:
artificial reef, trawler
Built:
1956 Tampa FL USA
Specs:
( 65 ft ) 79 GT
Sponsor:
Grady family, Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association, Ocean Reef Foundation of New Jersey
Sunk:
Wednesday Sept 21, 2016 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:
40°02.900' -73°59.000'
Depth:
80 ft


The larger tug Ranger was sunk on the Manasquan Reef
Type:
artificial reef, barge, etc
Specs:
( 140 ft )
Sunk:
Thursday January 14, 2021 - Little Egg Artificial Reef
GPS:
39°28.340' -74°11.083'

reef Bay Jack
derelict on the Delaware River in 2001
Type:
artificial reef, tugboat - USACE
Built:
1941, Sturgeon Bay, WI as Escort
Specs:
( 56 x 14 ft ) 34 tons
Sunk:
November 2005 - Townsends Inlet Artificial Reef
Sponsor:
GPS:
39°06.450' -74°36.020'
Depth:
60 ft

Bay King reef
Type:
artificial reef, tugboat
Built:
1941, Port Arthur, TX, as YTB-175 USS Chekilli
Specs:
( 96 ft )
Sponsor:
Manasquan River Marlin & Tuna Club, Ann E Clark Foundation
Sunk:
Sunday January 9, 2005 - Axel Carlson Artificial Reef
GPS:
40°03.187' -73°59.283'
Depth:
80 ft, top at 60 ft

Beach Haven reef
Originally built for menhaden fishing, converted to clam dredge.
Type:
artificial reef, purse seiner, clam dredge, USA
Built:
1949, RTC Shipbuilding Company, Camden NJ USA
Specs:
( 125 x 21 ft )
Sponsor:
Gifford Marine Company, Fish America Foundation, Artificial Reef Association
Sunk:
Thursday August 6, 1992 - Atlantic City Artificial Reef
GPS:
39°15.340' -74°14.017'

Becky Lee reef
Type:
artificial reef, clam dredge, USA
Built:
1968, Biloxi MS, as Big Bill
Specs:
( 85 x 23 ft )
Sponsor:
Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association
Sunk:
Thursday July 25, 1991 - Cape May Artificial Reef
GPS:
38°53.110' -74°01.030'
Depth:
60 ft

Big Mama reef
Type:
artificial reef, tugboat, USA
Built:
1925, Wilmington DE as Stroudsburg
Specs:
( 103 ft ) 195 GT
Sponsor:
Hay's Tug & Launch, GDF, Jersey Fresh Seafood Festival
Sunk:
Sunday June 9, 1995 - Atlantic City Artificial Reef
GPS:
39°13.961' -74°12.926'
Depth:
75 ft

Billy D reef
Type:
artificial reef, tugboat, US Army
Built:
1945 - Orlando CA USA, as ST-842, R.J. Wales
Specs:
( 80 x 23 ft )
Sponsor:
Artificial Reef Association
Sunk:
Sunday July 27, 1997 - Shark River Artificial Reef
GPS:
40°06.320' -73°41.855'
Depth:
125 ft

New Jersey Artificial Reef Sites

 1 2 3  18  

Shipwreck Atlantic
Type:
shipwreck, steamer, USA
Built:
May 1846, New York NY USA
Specs:
( 320 x 36 ft ) 1112 gross tons, 75 passengers & crew
Sunk:
Friday November 26, 1846
boiler explosion; then grounded during storm on Fisher's Island - 45 casualties
Depth:
20 ft

Printed from njscuba.net