Historic Argentine Research Vessel Sinks Unexpectedly Before Scheduled Reefing

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Just days before it was set to become part of an artificial reef, a historic Argentinean research vessel sank unexpectedly on December 4th.

The Capitan Canepa was built in 1964 as a fishing vessel but in 1979 was bought by Argentina’s National Fisheries Institute to be used for research. Over the next 40 years, the ship completed more than 200 scientific missions, studying the ocean and fish populations. It even helped with search and rescue operations during the Falklands conflict in 1982.

But years of hard work, combined with a lack of maintenance due to labor disputes, caused the ship to deteriorate. By 2019, it was decommissioned, and plans were made to turn it into an artificial reef at the Cristo Rey underwater park. This project was intended to help marine life thrive while giving the ship a meaningful final purpose.

However, before the ship could be towed to its final resting place, the Capitan Canepa sank suddenly while still docked at the Mar del Plata Naval Base. A local news outlet described the sinking as a fitting end for a ship that had spent so many years on the water. Instead of heading for the scrapyard, the Capitan Canepa sank peacefully in the waters it had travelled on for decades.

The ship still will become part of the ocean ecosystem as an artificial reef.

Read More at The Maritime Executive

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