Belzona 2

Originally constructed as the Henry E. Gillen in 1915 at Ashtabula, Ohio, by the Great Lakes Engineering Works, this 75-foot-long vessel featured a 400-horsepower steam engine and displaced 96 tons. During World War I, the U.S. Navy considered using her as a patrol craft (with identification ID-1789), but she was never officially enrolled. Over the years, she underwent several name changes: from Lasalle in 1922 to John I. Roche in 1940, and later as Barney Nelson in 1959. In 1965, she received a power upgrade with a 500-horsepower diesel engine and became the Gayle K. By 1971, Crocker Engineering owned her, renaming her the Raven. However, her ownership shifted multiple times in the 1970s, leading to her eventual removal from documentation on December 14, 1979. Fast forward to January 12, 1982, when Russell and Sandra Barnes of Miami purchased the tug. Although her exact service during this period remains unclear, there are rumors that she played a role in the Mariel Boat Lift from Cuba. Eventually, she was sold to Honduran registry on August 6, 1990, and rechristened the Miramar Express. Her final chapter unfolded when Belzona America, Incorporated sponsored her transformation into an artificial reef. On February 4, 1991, she found her new home beneath the waves, resting in 70 feet of water approximately 150 feet west-northwest of Belzona Three. Divers exploring the area—known as the “Belzona Wreck Trek”—will encounter rebar stakes in the sand, guiding them between various wrecks. While the tug remains largely intact, Hurricane Andrew exposed the amidships area. Not far away lies the Belcher Barge, upside down and spanning 195 feet. For those seeking further underwater adventures, a swim of approximately 200 feet eastward leads to the Hav Parker III and Schurger’s Barge .