Long-abandoned Navy vessel sunk off Charleston coast reborn as artificial reef

Описание: Just before sunrise off the Charleston coast, a long-forgotten Navy vessel began its final transformation.

The 120-foot Navy torpedo retriever HAZAR—once abandoned in Bohicket Creek and leaking oil into sensitive marshlands—was intentionally sunk 32 miles offshore, becoming South Carolina’s newest artificial reef.

The operation marked a major milestone for the state’s strengthened Abandoned Vessel Law and brought together the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Stevens Towing, and the Coastal Conservation Association. Now resting in 100 feet of water, the ship will create vital hard-bottom habitat, helping marine life thrive in an area once dominated by sand.

But beneath the environmental success was a deeply human story.

Aboard the boat guiding the HAZAR to its final resting place was captain Lance LeHew—just 24 hours removed from his final radiation treatment for stage four prostate cancer. Despite a lifelong fight ahead, he chose to be part of something bigger than himself.

From dolphins circling the sinking site to cheers breaking out on deck, this was more than a ship’s final voyage—it was a story of resilience, rebirth, and second chances.

https://www.live5news.com/2025/12/15/...