Eagle (ship)

History
Name	Raila Dan (1962–67); Barok (1967–74); Carmela (1974–76); Ytai (1976–77); Etai (1977–81); Carigulf Pioneer (1981–84); Arron K. (1984–85); Eagle Tire Co. (1985);
Builder	Bijker's Aannemingsbedrijf N.V. IJsselwerf, Gorinchem, Netherlands
Yard number	167
Launched	7 July 1962
Identification	IMO number: 5289340
Fate	Badly damaged by fire, 6 October 1985; Sunk as an artificial reef, 19 December 1985;
General characteristics
Type	Cargo ship
Length	268 ft 6 in (81.84 m)
Beam	40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)
Depth	65 ft (20 m)
Propulsion	1 × 10-cylinder diesel engine, 1,700 shp (1,268 kW)
Speed	12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph)

Eagle Tire Co. was a freighter that was sunk intentionally near Lower Matecumbe Key, Florida, to become an artificial reef and diving spot.

Ship history

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.^[1] 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.^[2] On 2 September 1998, the wreck was disturbed by Hurricane Georges and split into two separate pieces, 100 feet (30 m) apart.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b "The wreck of the Eagle". eaglewreck.info. 2012. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Center for Underwater Science (1997). "The Eagle | Shipwreck Trail Report". Indiana University. Archived from the original on 8 October 1999. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^ ^a ^b Noga, 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.
^ "The Eagle is possibly the best wreck dive site in the Florida Keys Artificial Reef System!". n-the-florida-keys.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)