The finish line is in sight for Jim Oppenborn, the St. Lucie County Coastal Resources Coordinator and point man for sinking a 180-foot freighter off the county’s coast to create a reef base for aquatic wildlife and a new destination for recreational divers and deep-sea anglers.
Last summer, the county acquired the vessel Voici Bernadette from U.S. Customs and Border Protection after the federal agency seized it due to its use in drug smuggling. In the time since, efforts have been underway to clean the ship up and raise funds to sink it.
And now, it’s all about to come together.
“It’s clean and clear,” Oppenborn said of the freighter, which has been cleaned of any items that aren’t fish safe and cleared of nasty pollutants, per EPA testing.
The county just needs the final push – to the tune of a bit more than $20,000 – to sink the vessel.
By his own accounting, Oppenborn said the county could cover $20,000 of what remains, but that would mean no more projects for the Coastal Resources division until next fiscal year.
Additionally, if the county foots the remaining bill, that would mean no more funding set aside for future artificial reef projects.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has already informed Oppenborn of the possibility of future decommissioned ships heading to St. Lucie County – or other counties – for reef projects.
To help continue to raise funds, an online auction is underway to sell off pieces of the ship, including its portholes, compass and ship’s wheel mounted on a brass pedestal.
“We’re running into the gun,” Oppenborn said. He explained that the Port of Fort Pierce has been a gracious host, allowing the county to stow the auction items in a warehouse there.
“They’re going to need the space” soon, he said, noting that he needs to clear out the warehouse by mid-March.
To give himself time to clear out, Oppenborn said the auction would be closed as of March 1.
Along with items from the ship on the auction block is an opportunity for naming rights. Currently Coastal Conservation Alliance has the top bid of $30,000. Bidding started at $25,000. Anyone can buy the rights immediately – for $50,000. Oppenborn said he’d love to see Coastal Conservation Alliance win the naming rights because the organization has been a big supporter. “But, we really need more money,” he said.
Individuals and companies have donated funds outright, including Derecktor Yachts and St. Andrews Academy, both of which donated $1,000 each.
Others have purchased memorial plaques that will be installed on the ship and visible to those who dive on the reef.
In all, donations and pledges have brought fundraising totals to about $20,000, but that doesn’t include the dolphin piles needed at Summerlin Dock, where Voici Bernadette is anchored.
Dolphin piles are a structure used to help hold ships in place so they don’t cause damage to a dock or pier. The Voici Bernadette, unfortunately, has damaged Summerlin Dock, according to Oppenborn.
Purchasing and installing the structures could cost an estimated $20,000, possibly less if a company were willing to offer a discount.
Even as the county faces the prospect of raising an additional $20,000 in funds to sink the Voici Bernadette, Oppenborn is looking forward to Deployment Day — “D-Day,” he quipped. That day could come on June 8, almost a year to the day when U.S. Customs towed the freighter to St. Lucie waters.
How to help:
To bid on the following items or purchase memorial plaques or get more information, contact Jim Oppenborn at 772-462-1713. Price listed is minimum bid and does not represent the current bid amount.
- Naming rights: $25,000
- Ship’s wheel and brass pedestal: $10,000
- Binnacle: $10,000
- Brass portholes: $500
- Small rectangular brass window frames: $100
- Large rectangular brass window: $700
- Small rectangular brass window: $500.
