(BETTY STEWART | Submitted)

ARTIFICIALLY ENHANCED: Lengths of concrete pipe were lifted from a N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries barge Thursday as part of stage two of the artificial reef being rebuilt off the Bayview shoreline. The concrete pipe is part of an estuarine reef that includes reef balls and both horizontal and vertical pipe. Mechanical problems with the barge’s crane brought the project to a halt, but Jim Francesconi, artificial reef coordinator for NCDMF, said the barge and crew of eight will be back to finish as soon as scheduling allows.