>>Spirit of Norfolk Will Be Repurposed into an Artificial Reef Off the Florida Coast
(Norfolk, VA) -- A Virginia cruise vessel that was damaged in a fire two years ago will get a new purpose in Florida. Rebecca Hughes with the details.Preview: Voicer Script:
The remains of the Spirit of Norfolk are being repurposed as an artificial reef off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The fire, which occurred during a lunch cruise in the Elizabeth River, led to the evacuation of all passengers and crew just over two years ago. WTKR reports the NTSB investigation revealed that the fire was likely caused by combustible materials near the exhaust pipe of the generator. The vessel, along with another owned by Coleen Marine Inc, was sold for $740,000 for the purpose of providing habitat for marine life and recreational opportunities for divers and fishermen in the area.