WATCH: Freighter Sunk for Artificial Reef

The University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) teamed up with long-time partner, Saltwater Fisheries Enhancement Association (SEA) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, to film the sinking of the cargo ship, Kinta S., to create a new artificial reef off the coast of Port Aransas and Corpus Christi.

The artificial reef is the newest endeavor of SEA to return money raised in the Coastal Bend to enhance local fisheries and provide a new recreational opportunity for the state of Texas. SEA has teamed up with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to fund the creation of this artificial reef for the enhancement of coastal fisheries.

The sinking is being filmed by Dr. Brad Erisman, a fisheries biologist with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, and professional videographer Alfredo Barroso Ruiz. The crew also plan to monitor the artificial reef to track how fish and other organisms begin to colonize and populate the Kinta S. vessel.

The Kinta S. is a 702-ton cargo ship that was built in Japan in 1975. Since then, the vessel has undergone several owner and name changes. Its longest job was carrying cargo in a route from Miami to Haiti. The Kinta S. continued to be in service operating along this route until a violent Atlantic storm rendered it unfit for service. It was then sold in a federal auction to a shipping agent who then sold by way of a tall tale of a lucrative Caribbean fishing venture to a Houston jeweler. The jeweler tried to refurbish the vessel but soon realized that it was not worth the effort. That’s where Walter Marine came into the picture. Walter Marine is a company that specializes in creating artificial reefs. They recognized that the Kinta S. would make a great artificial reef and towed it to their home base in Alabama. The sinking of the vessel in Texas waters will be Walter Marine’s 16th artificial reef that they’ve helped create. 

The Kinta S. slowly slipped beneath the surface and land in 78 feet of Gulf of Mexico water. It was laid down stern first and took only 30 minutes to settle onto the bottom. The contractors, Walter Marine, cut air escape holes in every compartment so that the vessel will land straight and true to the location.

Hard surfaces in the Gulf of Mexico are hard to find, but when they are present marine plants and organisms cling to them for dear life. Marine species often require a hard substrate to complete all or portions of their life cycles. This is what creates the reef effect. Upon sinking, the Kinta S. will soon begin its new life as artificial reef. After just a few days, it will begin to be colonized by algae, and then small animals such as barnacles, sponges, clams and corals. Many of these organisms are the food sources for the baitfish and then larger predators like grouper, snapper, and sharks. Since the Kinta S. will be one of the few hard surfaces on the bottom of the Gulf floor, it will soon support these fish species that recreational fisherman and divers enjoy.