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| Warship USS Oriskany Returns to Pensacola |
| 2006-03-23 |
| PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - A retired aircraft carrier returned Wednesday to Pensacola, where the Navy plans to sink it and create the first of many artificial reefs from former warships. The USS Oriskany, a famed Korean and Vietnam War ship, is scheduled to be sunk May 17. Explosives will placed on board and the ship will go down about 22 miles off the Pensacola coast. A permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency allows the carrier to be sunk with toxic PCBs in its paint, insulation and other ship parts. The EPA said the chemicals would slowly leach as the carrier rusts, and would pose no danger to marine life or humans. The Oriskany was first towed to Pensacola in December 2004, only to be towed back to Texas in June to ride out the 2005 hurricane season. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #4 Coral reefs grow beautifully and very quickly on sunken ships. A lovely offset for the reefs being destroyed by dynamite-laden fishermen in other parts of the oceans. Also, I understand that corals can actually be transplanted -- break off a bit of coral from an established reef, glue it to the new substratum, and watch it grow. No need to wait for nature to take its course... |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-03-23 15:51 |
| #3 Any Essexs left not a museum? |
| Posted by: 6 2006-03-23 08:53 |
| #2 A retired and honored veteran, given a sendoff intended to provide benefits to the environment after they're passed on... good for all involved, it seems. :) |
| Posted by: Edward Yee 2006-03-23 00:57 |
| #1 RIP well-deserved, MIGHTY "O". |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-03-23 00:30 |