Fatuk

Fatuk reef
Type:
artificial reef, freighter
Built:
1963, Japan
Specs:
( 160 x 25 ft )
Sponsor:
US Customs Service, Fish America, Sportfish Fund
Sunk:
Thursday October 27, 1988 - Garden State North Artificial Reef
GPS:
39°37.609' -74°01.037'
Depth:
80 ft

The Fatuk was a Japanese long-line fishing ship, converted from a refrigerated freighter. It was confiscated by the U.S. Customs Service for attempting to smuggle 2000 pounds of marijuana into the country in a freezer.

Fatuk reef

As is evident in the photo above, the Fatuk went over on her port side. There is no longer any sign of the superstructure, and the vessel has turned over about 135 degrees in total - almost upside-down.

Fatuk reef
Fatuk reef
The rudder and propeller
Fatuk reef
Looking forward along the starboard bilge keel - the highest point on the wreck
Fatuk reef
Fatuk reef
The bow, with a large mooring bit
Fatuk reef
A distinctive bit of machinery at the break near where the bridge would be


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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.

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