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Under the direction of the SCDNR, and with primary assistance from the South Carolina Army National Guard, the Navy donated materials that will enhance existing reefs and help create new ones.

NWSCHS donated old mooring anchors, large cement vehicle barriers, cement culvert pipes and cement manhole junctions for the reef project. In addition, NWSCHS contributed six obsolete fuel barges and more than 100 used shipping containers.

The containers are 20 feet long and eight feet high, and because of non-repairable damage, the Navy no longer uses them. Before sinking, the doors were removed and several holes were cut in the container. This will aid with the sinking process, and allow marine life to better access the structures.

National Guard personnel cleaned and stripped the barges of any hazardous materials. They also welded hatches open and cut holes throughout the barges.

In preparation for the donations, NWSCHS Environmental and Natural Resources personnel identified and selected materials that were safe and suitable for marine reefs.

Once materials were located, the National Guard's 1052nd Transportation Company and the Environmental Enterprise Group Inc. of Charleston, transported the materials to their final location.

The SCDNR program currently maintains 41 artificial reefs along the South Carolina coast.

"Creation of this habitat helps to increase fish population, while also providing enhanced recreational fishing and sport diving opportunities in our coastal water," said Bob Martore, coordinator of the artificial reef program. "With reef sites ranging from inshore waters less than 10 feet deep, to more than 35 miles offshore with depths exceeding 120 feet, boats of almost any size can reach a reef from any major inlet on our coast."

"We believe this is a great project. Most of this material has been not been used for years," said David Jones, NWSCHS Environmental and Natural Resources. "Now we're getting it cleaned up, out of the way; and it will be benefiting fish, anglers and divers for years to come."

For information on the artificial reef program, go to ./opis/html/ and select Marine artificial Reef Program under the living resources link or contact Bob Martore at (843) 762-5082.