Fishing Boat Raised From the Deep and Docked in Point Pleasant, But Will Be ‘Re-Sunk’

A stricken commercial fishing vessel has been raised from the depths of the Atlantic Ocean after a year submerged off Point Pleasant Beach, but its future will see a return to the bottom for a new life helping anglers reel in their catch.

The Susan Rose, a 77-foot commercial fishing vessel that ran aground on the beach just feet south of the Manasquan Inlet – then sunk a bit farther offshore following a failed effort to tow it off the beach – was raised over the last several days by a crane set in place atop a barge. The boat, well-preserved but covered in sea grass and other marine life, was then towed to a commercial fishing dock along Inlet Drive in Point Pleasant Beach where it remained Wednesday. (Note: If video of the salvage operation is not playing, disable ad blocking software and visit this page.)

Crews from Northstar Marine led the effort to re-float the Susan Rose, which ran aground Nov. 17, 2023 after its captain missed a turn into Manasquan Inlet and ended up in the surf in Point Pleasant Beach. Salvage crews attempted to tow the boat to deeper water in the days that followed, however uncooperative weather and a broken tow line led to it sinking in about 100-feet of water a few thousand yards off the beach.

The Susan Rose, submerged under the Atlantic Ocean for a year, is tied up along Channel Drive in Point Pleasant Beach after being re-floated, Nov. 20, 2024. (Photo: John Barrett)

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The Susan Rose, submerged under the Atlantic Ocean for a year, is tied up along Channel Drive in Point Pleasant Beach after being re-floated, Nov. 20, 2024. (Photo: John Barrett)

The Susan Rose, submerged under the Atlantic Ocean for a year, is tied up along Channel Drive in Point Pleasant Beach after being re-floated, Nov. 20, 2024. (Photo: John Barrett)

The boat had about 6,000 gallons of fuel on board at the time, most of which was pumped out, though about 100 gallons remained on board, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. New Jersey DEP spokesman Larry Hajna told Shorebeat Wednesday that the remaining fluids on board the vessel did not produce a hazard. The DEP, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Marine Unit oversaw the salvage effort.

“There was a light sheen from some residual oil and greases on board the vessel,” said Hajna. “The sheen dispersed quickly.”

Though rumors circulated that the Susan Rose, owned by The Town Dock Inc. of Narragansett, R.I., would be dismantled and sold for scrap, it will remain intact and ultimately be transported back to the ocean where it will be re-sunk.

“The vessel owners are planning to donate [the boat] to the New Jersey Artificial Reef Program,” said Hajna. “The vessel will need to be cleaned and meet specific criteria before that can occur.”

A 77-foot commercial fishing vessel runs aground in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., Nov. 17, 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

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A 77-foot commercial fishing vessel runs aground in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., Nov. 17, 2023. (Photo: Shorebeat)

The Susan Rose, submerged under the Atlantic Ocean for a year, is tied up along Channel Drive in Point Pleasant Beach after being re-floated, Nov. 20, 2024. (Photo: John Barrett)

Three reefs are located in close proximity to Manasquan Inlet, including the Sea Girt Reef, the Axel Carlson Reef and the new Maansquan Inlet Reef, which is set aside exclusively for recreational anglers. New Jersey’s artificial reef program is hailed as one of the nation’s best, made up of structures that range from sunken vessels, to New York City subway cars, to surplus Army tanks, to concrete cast “reef balls” which attract marine life.