Horry County officials approved funds to turn the rusting shrimp boat Miss Sandra Gail into a marine artificial reef off the Little River. The 53‑foot steel vessel, built in 1981 and abandoned in a marsh, was towed about 10 miles offshore and sunk on Monday, creating roughly 22,000 cubic feet of hard structure for sponges, corals, algae and fish.
Local roots and family donation
The boat was built by Layton and Vivian Tharpe for their son’s cousin, Sandra Gail. After decades of service, the vessel changed hands and eventually was left to drift into a marsh. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) flagged it as abandoned, contacted the family, and the owners agreed to donate it to the agency’s Marine Artificial Reef Program.
Preparation and placement
SCDNR officials said the project took about three years, most of which was spent selecting a suitable site. Reef coordinator Kevin Spanik worked with local dive operator Coastal Scuba to place the hull between existing structures at site PA‑02, an established reef that already hosts a tugboat, two Navy landing craft and several Army armored personnel carriers.
Crews removed fuel, oil and wood paneling and sealed any openings that could trap marine life. The cleaning follows standard protocol that SCDNR has used since 2019 for every vessel destined for a reef.
Why steel matters
Spanik noted that a durable steel hull is ideal for reef conversion, avoiding the environmental concerns associated with fiberglass boats, which often end up in landfills because the material degrades over time.
Impact on local anglers and divers
Officials say the new structure will attract marine life within hours and develop a full reef habitat over three to five years. By adding hard bottom only 10 miles offshore, the reef offers better fishing and diving opportunities for smaller boats that cannot travel to deeper sites 30 miles out, supporting local charter captains and dive shops.
Broader context
The project highlights South Carolina’s ongoing challenge with derelict vessels. In May 2025, Gov. Henry McMaster signed S. 367, giving SCDNR clearer authority to notify owners and remove abandoned boats, with increased penalties. While the Miss Sandra Gail had a clear ownership trail, most abandoned boats lack owners and end up in landfills, a costly outcome.
In 2025, a state official estimated that clearing the remaining abandoned boats could cost about $5 million. Horry County’s investment in the reef program shows a proactive approach, but questions remain about how many more vessels can be repurposed and how much funding remains available.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
