Cape Fear Community College’s R/V Cape Hatteras will get new life as an artificial reef.

CFCC plans to donate the longtime research vessel to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, where it will begin its next chapter underwater as a habitat for marine life and a destination for recreational fishing and diving, according to a news release Friday. 

The vessel is expected to be sunk approximately 18 miles off Wrightsville Beach. Preparation is expected to take three to four months, with deployment set tentatively for spring, according to the release. The process includes preparing the vessel to meet environmental requirements for use as an artificial reef.

The vessel, which CFCC purchased in 2013, is currently on its final student training voyage, with students scheduled to return Sunday. On Tuesday, the Cape Hatteras will depart CFCC’s dock for the final time as it begins the transition to its new role.

“The R/V Cape Hatteras has been the backbone of our students’ hands-on, offshore training for many years,” Shawna Rowe, CFCC’s Marine Technology program director, said in the release. “It’s hard to say goodbye to a ship that holds so many memories, but knowing she’ll continue to support marine life makes this a fitting next chapter.”

The CFCC Foundation plans to offer alumni, former crew members and the general public an opportunity to honor someone with a lasting tribute aboard the ship. Additional details will be shared as plans are finalized.

A new 86-foot-long catamaran currently under construction for the college is expected to arrive this winter. The new vessel accommodates fewer passengers on overnight trips but will be twice as fast as the R/V Cape Hatteras, CFCC officials told the Business Journal this summer.