AH-WR-0885

Fairfield New Venture

Research Vessel · United States · Lost 2018 · The Gulf of Mexico

A 250-foot former marine surveying vessel purpose-sunk in 2018 south of Orange Beach, prized by divers for its multiple explorable deck levels.

Become Captain of Record See Shipwreck on Map

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Interpretive Reconstruction, drawn to convey the vessel's era, type and general form. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

The Fairfield New Venture was a 250-foot former marine surveying vessel retired and intentionally sunk in 2018 about 20 miles south of Orange Beach, Alabama, as an addition to the state's artificial reef zones. Resting between roughly 60 and 125 feet, it offers more deck levels than most vessels its size, drawing advanced divers who explore its passageways for bull sharks and red snapper.

Vessel

Built: Not established
Builder: Not established
Yard: Not established
Material: Steel
Length: 250 ft
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: Not established
Propulsion: Not established
Owners: Alabama Marine Resources Division / Alabama Gulf Coast Reef and Restoration Foundation

Loss

Date: January 1, 2018
Cause: Intentional sinking
Location: About 20 miles south of Orange Beach, Alabama
Water: Gulf of Mexico
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: Not established
Aboard: Not established
Lives lost: Not established
Master: Not established

The Wreck Today

Depth: 60-125
Condition: Intact, sitting upright with wheelhouse near 60 feet and multiple internal decks and levels.
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Not established