The ship was built in 1962 for Danish shipowners J. Lauritzen A/S at Bijkers Shipyard, Gorinchem, Netherlands, and named Raila Dan. In 1969, she was sold to the Dutch shipping company Poseidon and renamed Barok. In 1974, she was sold again, and renamed Carmela. She was then sold and renamed Ytai in 1976, and yet again sold, and renamed Etai the following year. In 1981, she was sold and renamed Carigulf Pioneer, and sold for the final time in 1984 and renamed Arron K. On 6 October 1985, the Arron K. caught fire while sailing from Miami to Venezuela, and was damaged beyond economical repair. On 19 December 1985, the ship was bought and prepared by the Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association, renamed Eagle Tire Co. for the Miami company owned by the businessman who donated $20,000 to the project,[3] and sunk as an artificial reef near Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida.[2] By 2014, the ship's final name had already been largely forgotten, referred to as simply the Eagle Tire or just the Eagle.[3]
Wreck
Eagle Tire Co. lies approximately three miles north-east of the Alligator Reef Light, six miles off the coast of the Lower Matecumbe Key, in between 70–115 feet (21–35 m) of water.[1] On 2 September 1998, the wreck was disturbed by Hurricane Georges and split into two separate pieces, 100 feet (30 m) apart.[4]
^ abNoga, Edward (11 March 2014). "Other Voices: Memories of sunken Eagle Tire stay afloat". Tire Business. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2023. Joe Tietelbaum—owner of a marine terminal in Miami and Eagle Tire Co.—donated the 20 Gs to get it prepared and hauled to its final resting place.
