The CHICKASAW was a steam-powered tugboat built in 1908 at Pensacola, Florida.  The twin-screwed vessel was 107 feet long and had a beam of 20 feet.  The CHICKASAW was owned by the Army Corps of Engineers and based in Mobile, Alabama.  Because of her maneuverability and larger than average size the CHICKASAW drew assignments all over the Panhandle of Florida.  Typical jobs would include towing, pushing, survey work or a combination of all three.  Local jobs of interest included working throughout the project of opening the new pass and building what is now the jetty system at St. Andrews State Park.
After World War II the CHICKASAW was purchased by the Sherman Towing Company of Panama City and renamed SHERMAN VII.  Shortly after purchase, the vessel was replated with scrap steel from the dismantling of Liberty Ships, and her steam engines were replaced with diesel engines.  One her early jobs was moving the Liberty ships around at Port Panama City during the scrapping jobs.  A total of 108 Liberty Ships had been built at the Wainwright Shipyard between 1942 and 1945.  After the war many of the remaining Liberty Ships were mothballed and then scrapped. 
In the late 1970’s the CHICKASAW sank at her dock.  She was raised and then sold.  Eventually the CHICKASAW ended up being owned by someone with the intention of building an offshore, artificial reef.   Under cover of darkness to keep the location a secret the CHICKASAW was slowly towed out the St. Andrews Pass. While underway, the leaks became more than the pumps could handle, and near the channel bell buoy the tugboat had to be cut loose to avoid endangering the tow vessel.
The tug landed upright on a sandy bottom in 71 feet of water, 3.6 nautical miles from the pass.  Her bow is heading 240 degrees and she is still there today almost 25 years later.  Of course there has been deterioration, sanding and other concessions to the elements but the CHICKASAW is still a haven for fish and other marine life as well as an attractor to local divers and visitors as well.