Between August and December 2025, Stevens Towing completed a full start-to-finish vessel salvage and reefing operation. As part of an artificial reef project with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, our crew raised the 120-ft former Navy torpedo retriever HAZAR from Bohicket Creek on Wadmalaw Island and towed it offshore.  

Left in the water for four years, the vessel had been a large source of environmental hazards, including expelling around 3,500 gallons of hazardous oil and contaminated water. Removing the vessel eliminated these environmental hazards and helped protect the surrounding marine habitat.

“Anything we can do to add to the habitat for fish, the ecosystem offshore, is just great for the environment, good for just the ecosystem overall.” -Captain Cameron White 

After design and planning, the salvage project began on August 19, 2025 by raising HAZAR from the South Carolina marsh. The vessel was tied to a barge and towed to the Stevens Towing shipyard for cleaning. To prepare for reefing, anything that would harm the ocean floor was stripped, and holes were drilled to allow the ship to sink. 

To start towing offshore, our crews secured a tugboat to the torpedo retriever and maneuvered both vessels out of the dock. 

On December 7, 2025, crews positioned HAZAR to its exact sinking coordinates, removed Stevens Towing equipment from the vessel, and began opening it up to water flow. 

HAZAR reached the ocean floor in an hour and 45 minutes.

“You never want it to sink too fast, but you never want it to sink too slow either. The goal is to have it done in an hour or two, and you have to do that by design. And luckily, today went as designed,” said White. 

The successful reefing project was a team effort by the Stevens Towing captains and crew, helping improve the South Carolina marine environment.