Eternal Reefs Creates Permanent Living Legacies
Two college room mates who spent much of their free time diving in the Florida Keys during the late 1980's recognized a need to help protect and restore our fragile reefs. After graduation they began to discuss creating shapes and materials that would replicate the natural marine environment and support coral and microorganism growth. By the late eighties they had developed patented mold systems and an environmentally friendly concrete to produce the worlds first specifically designed reef balls.
Within a few years Eternal Reefs was founded; a concept that involves mixing the cremated remains of the deceased into an environmentally friendly concrete before it is poured into the mold to create a memorial reef. Don Brawley is one of those college roommates and the founder of Eternal Reefs. Over the last 10 years, Eternal Reefs has placed approximately 1000 memorial reefs at several locations along the east coast.
In late February, TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale was contracted by Eternal Reefs to deploy six of these memorial reefs off the coast of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. The company used its 46' Launch boat equipped with a knuckle boom crane to deploy the 550 pound, 36" diameter structures. Loved ones attended a final viewing and the memorial reefs were loaded aboard the Launch boat at the company's dock in Dania Beach Florida. The boat steamed out to the deployment site while friends and family were transported on another vessel to pay their last respects during the placement at sea. TowBoatU.S Ft. Lauderdale has been working with Eternal Reefs for many years and has placed many memorial reefs for the company. Don Brawley stated "The equipment used by TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale is top notch; the crew is well trained and very professional. We are confident that our placements will go flawlessly here in Ft. Lauderdale as long as Mother Nature doesn't hold us up; we will be working with TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale for many years to come!"
You can learn more about Eternal Reefs by logging onto www.eternalreefs.com. Contact TowBoatU.S. Ft. Lauderdale for more information about chartering any of the company's vessels ranging from 26' to 96'.
