Volunteers clean and prepare Prudence Ferry before it’s sunk for artificial reef
A swarm of sea-loving do-gooders is giving new life to a dilapidated former ferry that has been rusting in Long Island City for more than a decade, scrubbing it up to help turn it into an artificial reef for marine life .
“It had been sitting there for years without having been used,” said Harris Moore, 36, a local scuba diver who had grown sick of swimming past the neglected ferry and pitched its makeover.NYC community board worker claims she was fired for being a ‘middle-aged white woman’ This is the massive Queens development that Mamdani pitched to Trump — 6 times the size of Hudson Yards Dozens of students, families evicted from NYC homeless shelter — after locals plead for Mamdani to step inThe Prudence — which had once been used to ferry people and cars in Rhode Island — has been moored in Anable Basin for more than a decade, after a dream to turn it into a floating beer garden sank. The local plastics manufacturing company Plaxall had bought the ship for $70,000 in 2012 with the boozy plan in mind, but a series of regulatory hurdles and structural issues left the move dead in the water. Then Moore got the idea to make it an artificial reef and teamed up with Bill Cadden, president of the Long Island Artificial Reef Society, to turn that vision into reality. The Prudence’s final resting place will likely be with the 16-Fathom, a 3-year-old artificial reef roughly 13 nautical miles southwest of the Fire Island Inlet.“In marine ecosystems, structure is a limiting factor. Most of the animals that make up the base of marine ecosystems need something hard and physical to attach themselves to,” Moore said. “Things like mussels and oysters or corals and sponges and algae aren’t just going to grow on the sand. “They need something to attach themselves to. And then fish also are going to want to be around those kinds of organisms for food but also for shelter. They hide from predators around these reefs, hunt on these reefs. “You could have a shipwreck that will be teeming with life, and every square inch of it is covered in mussels, crabs, fish. And then you swim 50ft away into the sand, and it’s just like being in a barren desert,” he said.Moore’s plan was nearly thwarted by this winter’s harsh weather, which caused the ferry to partially deteriorate and allow water to flood its engine room last month.Before it can be sunk into the Atlantic, the Prudence needs to be cleaned of debris and other loose materials it has accumulated over the past decade.Moore asked volunteers to pitch in over the next several weeks, and the response has been overwhelming. About a dozen volunteers showed up Saturday to remove old wiring, sweep the floors, strip the chipping paint and toss out its dozens of decaying life jackets. “We see this ferry almost every day, and we always wondered about it,” said a volunteer named Kat. “We learned about the artificial reef program, which is really cool. I didn’t know about the artificial reef programs! “Basically, what we’re doing here today is cleaning it up so the fish don’t get caught on little debris or eat paint chips so everything’s sparkling and clean for their new habitats,” Kat said. Another volunteer named Will said the experience “seemed like a really noble and interesting effort, and I wanted to make sure that it succeeded. A helper named Darya, who spent the morning sweeping, said, “I think it’s a wonderful community that I would like to give back to.”The hope is to sink the Prudence in its final resting spot as part of the 16-Fathom artificial reef this summer. 'No Kings' protests turn violent in Portland, LA and Dallas -- as rally near Mar-a-Lago takes bizarre turn Oil heir ordered to pay historic $1.1B after brutally attacking toddler stepson, putting him in wheelchair Tiger Woods' girlfriend Vanessa Trump shares first Instagram post since his Florida DUI rollover crashWe found celeb-loved beauty buys up to 56% off on Amazon: Medicube, Dyson, moreWe found celeb-loved beauty buys up to 56% off on Amazon: Medicube, Dyson, more TLC singer Chilli reveals political stance after donating to Trump campaign, sharing bizarre Michelle Obama conspiracyJ.C. Rice for NY PostStream It Or Skip It: 'Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole' On Netflix, Where A Troubled Detective Tracks Down A Serial Killer Who Is Terrorizing Oslo
US News Atlantic Ocean Long Island City Marine Life New York City Life Queens
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
11 Best Fried Fish Sandwiches Across America, According to DinersYour ultimate source for expert nutrition tips and health advice, covering wellness, healthy recipes, cooking hacks, food news, style trends and shopping.
Read more »
DAV Community Impact Day urges volunteers to support veteransShannon Sander is a veteran who works at the local chapter of Disabled American Veterans.
Read more »
University of Toledo researchers seek volunteers for Lake Erie air quality studyResearchers with the University of Toledo are studying the health effects of living by the lake during algal bloom season.
Read more »
Volunteers, MMIP advocates help in search for missing Native womanJane Caffrey joined ABC15 September 2024 as a multimedia journalist. She is passionate about listening to concerns and digging deep to find answers and taking an in-depth look at crucial topics.
Read more »
Nearly 500-pound monster fish hauled in by US captain turns into feast for whole townToday's Video Headlines: 3/28/2026
Read more »
Counting cranes: Statewide survey in need of volunteersThe Ohio Department of Wildlife is working with other organizations to protect the state's environment, and together they are looking for help from the communit
Read more »