Discovery Channel to Capture on Film First-Ever Intentional Sinking of a U.S. Aircraft Carrier

Discovery Channel to Capture on Film First-Ever Intentional Sinking of a U.S. Aircraft Carrier

150 People Spent Years Planning Extremely Ambitious Project: Taking Down
Decommissioned Korean War Era Ship

WHAT: The U.S. Navy will detonate C4 explosives to sink the ex-
Oriskany Aircraft Carrier on May 17, 2006 -- the first time
an aircraft carrier has ever been sunk in a non-military
exercise. The explosion, as well as the long, hard years of
planning and coordination leading up to it, is being captured
on film for the Discovery Channel's one hour special THE
SINKING OF AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER (wt) to air later this fall.

The ship will eventually create an artificial reef that will
benefit marine life, sport fishing and recreational diving
off the coast of the Florida Panhandle and generate an
estimated $92 million per year in economic benefits for
Escambia County.

The ex-Oriskany, a Korean and Vietnam War era aircraft
carrier, weighs in at 32,000 tons and measures 888 feet long.
Upon detonation, the ex-Oriskany will be the largest ship
ever intentionally sunk as an artificial reef.

In the days leading up to the sinking, a Navy Explosive
Ordnance Disposal team will strategically place explosives
and detonation equipment on 22 areas of the ship. Today (May
15), the Navy will tow the vessel from Pensacola, Florida to
a location 24 miles off shore where, on May 17, the navy will
sink the vessel by detonating the explosives on board. The
Navy estimates it will take approximately five hours for the
ship to sink, ideally landing upright on the ocean floor at a
depth of approximately 212 feet.

WHEN/WHERE: Today, May 15, 2006 (weather permitting) -- The ex-Oriskany
Aircraft Carrier will leave from Pensacola to make the day-
long 24-mile trip to its final resting place in the Florida
Gulf.

May 17, 2006 (weather permitting) -- The explosives aboard
the ex-Oriskany will be detonated, thus sinking the vessel
which will then become part of the 77 square mile Escambia
East Large Area Artificial Reef site.

Photos will be available after the event upon request.

CONTACT: Amy Hagovsky of Discovery Channel, +1-240-662-2931, Amy_Hagovsky@discovery.com

PRNewswire -- May 15

Source: Discovery Channel

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/

-------
Profile: intent