Spirit of Norfolk Sunk to Become Artificial Reef
By Meg Walburn Viviano
The city cruise boat that caught fire in Norfolk Harbor, prompting the rescue of 89 schoolchildren, has just been sunk off the coast of Destin, Florida. It is Okaloosa County’s newest addition to its popular artificial reef attraction.
The former Spirit of Norfolk was a dinner cruise and tour vessel operated in Norfolk by City Cruises. On June 7, 2022, a fire began in the engine room while the boat was out for a lunch cruise with students on board. Thanks to the crew’s quick actions and a large response from the Coast Guard, Naval Station Norfolk, and even a competing cruise boat’s crew that came to help, all 106 people were able to get out safely.
The vessel was salvaged and moved to a Naval Station Norfolk pier, but it took nearly four days for the fire to be fully extinguished. The boat was still smoldering and crews had to stay on site around the clock to make sure the fire didn’t reignite. The Coast Guard finally helped bring it to the Colonna’s Shipyard, but it would never return to service for City Cruises. There is a new M/V Spirit of Norfolk (the former Spirit of Mount Vernon) operating in the city now, which carries 320 people and boasts three bars and four decks.
The fire-stricken vessel was sold in 2024 to Okaloosa County for its world-famous artificial reef system off the coast of Okaloosa County. The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources department announced July 11 that the 188-foot-long vessel is now sitting on the bottom in 128 feet of water. The top of the Spirit of Norfolk is 51 feet off the bottom.
Natural Resources Chief Alex Fogg said the vessel was sunk as part of a Joint U.S. Air Force demonstration, partnering with Eglin Air Force Base. “We are excited to meet multiple program objectives in partnership with Eglin AFB,” he said.
Several people who had ridden or worked on the Spirit of Norfolk commented on the eeriness of seeing it as a sunken ship.
The Okaloosa County artificial reef system is the same one that will soon be home to the SS United States, in a controversial plan to sink the transatlantic speed record-holder. Strongly opposed by conservationists who wanted to see the 1950s oceanliner survive, the plan will make the United States the world’s largest artificial reef. She is currently in Mobile, Alabama, to be prepared for sinking.
Divers looking for coordinates and more information on Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s artificial reef ecotourism can do their research here.