Originally built by Shell Oil as an oil tender to service Gulf of Mexico oil rigs, the refitted Niobe Corinthian arrived in Bermuda in 2005 as a floating casino, circumventing Bermuda law by operating 12 miles offshore in international waters. In August 2006, while the ship was in home port, Bermuda police raided it and seized 100 gaming machines. Fire damaged the ship in 2007, and it was again raided by police in 2008. The government eventually took ownership of the derelict ship in 2014.

Getting the vessel ready for use as an artificial reef to attract marine life and divers, the Stempel Foundation cleaned the engine room, demolished structures and removed hazardous wastes. The rusting remains of the former casino ship were moved from their moorings on April 4, 2017, and it was underwater by 3:35pm the same day. It went down by the starboard bow initially, then the wind turned it toward the port. At one point it was tilting 60 degrees or more, but eventually the ship landed almost perfectly upright.

CURRENT CONDITION

The ship sits 12 miles offshore and roughly 2.5 kilometers northwest of North Rock Beacon. At its highest point, the vessel is about 16 feet from the ocean surface at low tide – making it accessible to scuba divers and even free divers. Now dubbed the Corinthian, the ship sits on the ocean floor in 70 feet of water, and it remains upright – just five degrees off its vertical axis, according to the meter in the wheelhouse.

STATISTICS

Location: 32°27'31.46"N, 64°47'8.16"W    Length: 175 feet (53 meters)    Maximum Depth: 70 feet (21 meters)    Protected Area Radius - No Fishing: 200m