Photos: Hurricane-damaged ship becomes home for marine life

A large vessel rendered derelict during Hurricane Michael, which slammed Florida as a Category 5 storm last October, has become a new home for marine life.

The 145-foot El Dorado, after months of salvage work and cleaning, was sunk last Friday about 12 miles beyond Panama City in the Gulf of Mexico. On Thursday the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released photos of the former casino boat before and during the sinking process. Many of those photos accompany this post.

The FWC stated on Facebook: “As the cleanup of derelict vessels from Hurricane Michael comes to an end, one of the vessels will serve a new purpose! After the storm we worked with partners to carefully salvage, inspect and clean this 145-foot vessel named “El Dorado” to turn it into an artificial reef. Benefits of this artificial reef include new fishing and diving opportunities and increased reef fish habitat!”

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The El Dorado, which also ran aground during Hurricane Ivan in 2004, was in the process of being restored when Hurricane Michael struck last October.

For months thereafter it rested on its side in West Bay. The owner eventually donated the craft to become part of the state’s artificial reef system.

The aluminum vessel was prepared for its sinking by Bay County. Its vast structure is expected to attract several species of fish and other marine life, and become a destination for anglers and scuba divers.

Bay County Commissioner Bill Dozier told WJHG: “It’s important that we continually add artificial reefs to give the fish the cover that they need, the habitat that they need, to be able to attract the fish for the diving industry and the fishing industry.”

–Images are courtesy of Bekah Nelson/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission