DivePro - Info

Last Thursday, the 645-foot Clipper Lasco cargo ship ran aground on a reef about 3/4 of a mile due east of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. En route from France, the Bahamian-flagged ship was carrying about 30,000 metric tons of bauxite ore and 323 metric tons of fuel oil. However, the Coast Guard has stated that neither the ship's cargo nor its fuel supply spilled into the ocean.

Nevertheless, many people are concerned about damage to the reef. To that end, salvage divers from Resolve Marine Group have already completed a preliminary survey of the ship's hull and the ocean bottom. Admitting that the vessel impacted the reef and "some coral," the extent of the coral damage will not be known until the vessel is refloated -- this process is currently underway -- and a more comprehensive survey is conducted.