Shipwrecks on Alaska Maritime National
Wildlife Refuge
Source:
Eric Nelson
Over
180 known wrecks and groundings on or adjacent to the refuge are listed here,
organized by island. Alaska Maritime National Wildlife RefugeÕs M/V
Tiglax engineer Eric Nelson researched the list. It is an incomplete work
in progress with an emphasis on wrecks that have left some physical evidence on
the refuge. Spills that did not involve wrecks will be incorporated at a
later date. (MMS) indicates Minerals Management Service was used as the
data source. All other sources are as noted. E-Mail the refuge if
you have additional information or sources. Oct 28, 2007.
Adak
Is., 1754, Sept. 2nd,
Russian ship Sv. Iermiia wrecked
at Adak Is. The survivors constructed a smaller vessel from the wreckage and
driftwood, naming it Sv.Petr i Pavel and sailed it homeward in 1754. (Lydia T. Black, Dominique
Desson, Early Russian Contact, AK Historical Commission, 1986) The Sv.
Iermiia had been built
on Mednoi Island either out of the wreckage of the vessel Sv. Simeon and
Ioann or driftwood.
(Lydia T. Black, Proceedings of the Alaskan Marine Archaeology Workshop, 1983)
Driven onto onshore rocks when anchor cable parted. Minerals Management Service
(MMS)
Adak
Is., 1869, April, an
abandoned Japanese junk was stranded on Adak. (Charles Wolcott Brooks, Report
of Japanese vessels wrecked in the North Pacific Ocean, Proceedings of the
California Academy of Sciences, 1875), (MMS)
Adak
Is., 1943, Feb. 22nd,
Navy patrol boat YP-72, ex-seiner
Cavalcade lost. (MMS)
Adak
Is., 2000, April 20th,
American F/V Starigavan
grounded at Sweeper Cove. Vessel was refloated by Magone Marine Services and
taken to Dutch Harbor for further repairs. (ADEC Div. of Spill Prevention and
Response)
Adak
Is., 2007, Mar 18th, the
American F/V Exodus Explorer
struck a rock near Sweeper Cove and capsized. All of the crew were rescued. The
vessel was refloated, all fuel and nets were removed, and it was towed to a
point 14 miles N.W. of Great Sitkin Is., where it was scuttled. (USFWS)
Afognak
Is., 1970, Oct. 17th,
the 49 ton Osprey
sank in Blue Fox Bay. (MMS)
Afognak
Is., 1971, Nov. 8th,
the 44Õ Saratoga went
on the rocks near the mouth of Little Tonki Bay after the anchor line parted.
(MMS)
Afognak
Is., 1979, Aug. 5th,
the 98Õ Blua Pacific
grounded and broke up in Izhut Bay. (MMS)
Afognak
Is., 1994, Aug. 4th,
the 50Õ DylanÕs Dream
burned in Izhut Bay. (MMS)
Afognak
Is., 2003, Genei Maru #7, the "ghost
ship" grounded after drifting at sea, crewless, for five months.
Aiktalalik
Is., 1895, April 14th,
two-masted schooner Kodiak
stranded and broke up on SE point when anchors would not hold. All hands got
ashore and found shelter. (MMS)
Aiktalalik
Is., 1897, April 25th,
schooner Alexandra
dragged anchor and stranded on the NW side. (MMS)
Akun
Is., 1914, May 14th,
1,582 ton three-masted wooden cannery bark Paramita dragged both anchors in heavy wind and
was holed by rocks off Ugamak Island. Water gained on pumps and ignited lime in
the holds. Captain Wagner sailed the burning vessel to Lost Harbor, Akun Is.,
where it was grounded. Captain sailed a small boat to Unalaska to summon
Revenue cutters Tahoma
and Unalga because
his ship had no wireless. Captain Wagner took 15 hours to sail to Unalaska only
to discover that both cutters were anchored in a cove only a few miles from the
wreck site. The cutters rescued the crew; heavy seas broke the wreck in two and
it was abandoned. Some cargo was salvaged. (MMS)
Akun
Is., 1919, Aug. 18th,
gas screw Warrick
lost at Lost Harbor. (MMS)
Akun
Is., 1928, May 22-23,
the 2,163 ton American bark Star of Falkland wrecked at Akun Head, Unimak Pass. All
but one of the crew was saved; ship became a total loss.
Akun
Is., 1952, Aug. 1st,
oil screw Sundown
stranded. (MMS)
Akun
Is., 1964, Feb. 10th,
oil screw Cape Spencer
stranded on the S. shore of Akun Bay. (MMS)
Akun
Is., 1988, Dec. 10th,
288ÕJapanese reefer freighter Aoyagi Maru lost power in a storm and grounded on a reef at Lost Harbor
while involved with a frozen fish transfer with Bering Trader; 19 rescued by CG and the tug Lori
Ann. 52,000 gallons of
bunker C fuel leaked from the wreck, and the remaining 32,000 gallons on board
were burned by the CG. (MMS)
Akun
Is., 1990, Aug. 17th,
32Õ F/V White Night
took on water and was towed ashore by F/V Neunik; 3 saved. (MMS)
Akutan
Is., 1918, Nov. 12th,
three-masted gas screw schooner Halcyon broke anchor chains in SW storm and foundered in Akutan
Bay; 12 crewmen escaped in small boats. (MMS)
Akutan
Is., 1936, Sept. 14th,
whaling steamer Westport
struck a reef in a gale at Reef Bight and sank; crew was rescued by USCG cutter
Daphne. (MMS)
Akutan
Is., 1936, Dec. 13th,
gas screw Frederick A.
dragged anchors in strong gale and stranded just outside Akutan Bay. Hull was a
total loss but engine and equipment salvaged. (MMS)
Akutan
Is., 1939, July 23rd,
vessel Aberdeen
rammed by a whale. (MMS)
Amak
Is., 1961, Oct. 13th,
oil screw Husky
stranded.
Amaknak
Is., 1980, Dec.,
80Õsteel limit seiner Dauntless
wrecked at Ulakta Head while on maiden voyage. At the time it was the largest
limit seiner yet built. Phone conversation w/owner 12/10/00. 4 JPEGS taken on
8/29/01
Amaknak
Is., 1989, Feb. 27th,
307Õ Japanese freighter Swallow
grounded at Ulakta Head, later refloated.
Amaknak
Is., 1999, Feb. 20th,
Liberian M/V Hekifu
driven ashore at Rocky Point (near the APL dock) by 110 knot gust while at
anchor. Vessel was pulled off by
M/V Redeemer and
taken to Magone Marine Services for temporary repairs repairs. (ADEC Department
of Spill Prevention and Response)
Amaknak
Is., 2000, Sept. 11th,
99Õ, 173 GT American tractor tug Millenium Star grounded at Ulakta Head due to human error/fatigue. Vessel
was refloated by Magone Marine Services and taken to their facility in Dutch
Harbor for temporary repairs and fuel removal. It was towed to the lower 48 for
permanent repairs. The tug was virtually new, having been placed in service on
July 25, 2000. (ADEC Div. of Spill Prevention and Response)
Amatignak
Is., 1932, Sept.
27th, American freighter Nevada wrecked, three out of a crew of 37 survived.
Amchitka
Is., 1917, July 13th,
Japanese steamship Kotohiro Maru
wrecked on SE end, the crew survived, but the ship became a total loss.
Amchitka
Is., 1942, June 20th,
U.S. Navy submarine S-27 (SS-132)
grounded off Amchitka Island, crew escaped in rafts.
Amchitka
Is., 1943, Jan.12th,
U.S. Navy destroyer USS Worden (DD-352) struck a rock at the entrance of Constantine Harbor and
sank, 14 of the crew were lost, and the vessel became a total loss. (History of
U.S. Naval Operations in WWII, vol.VII)
Amchitka
Is., 1943, Oct. 28th,
Navy patrol boat YP-88
lost. (MMS)
Amchitka
Is., 1946, Jan. 27th,
the American motorship Crown Reefer wrecked on the N.W. side with no loss of life, but the ship
became a total loss. The point where it lies took the name of the ship.
Amlia
Is., 1785, Russian ship Sv.
Evpl wrecked at Pankov
Harbor, crew and cargo saved. (Lydia T. Black, Proceedings of the Alaskan
Marine Archaeology Workshop, 1983)
Amlia
Is., 1894, May 11th,
American whaling bark James Allen
struck a rock at E. end of Amlia Is. and sank, 15 crew saved, 25 lost. (Also
reported as 15 lives lost in Marine Disasters of the Alaska Route by C.L.
Andrews, 1916)
Amukta
Is., 1946, Nov. 3rd,
the 3577 ton vessel A.T.T.No.1
stranded on the N.E. shore. (MMS)
Atka
Is., 1831, Russian ship Sivutch wrecked E. of Wall Bay, Atka Is., ship
lost but crew and cargo saved. (Richard A. Pierce, Proceedings of the Alaskan
Marine Archaeology Workshop, 1983). Vessel broken up for wood and iron. (MMS)
Atka
Is., 1851, Japanese junk
wrecked with three of the crew surviving. (Charles Wolcott Brooks, Report of
Japanese vessels wrecked in the North Pacific Ocean, Proceedings of the
California Academy of Sciences, 1875)
Atka
Is., 1871, July 10th,
Japanese junk Jinko Maru, 180
kokus measurement, wrecked at Atka Is. after having drifted, disabled, for 2500
miles from the coast of Japan. The crew of three survived and were picked up on
Sept. 19th by the schooner H.M. Hutchinson and
taken to Unalaska. (Charles Wolcott Brooks, report of Japanese vessels wrecked
in the North Pacific Ocean, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences,
1875), (MMS)
Atka
Is., 1942, Sept. 1st,
Japanese submarine RO-61 sunk
by depth charges and shelling off Atka Is., five crewmen survived. (History of
U.S. Naval Operations in WWII, vol. VII)
Atka
Is., 1982, Nov. 12th,
the 110' steel U.S. F/V American Beauty wrecked on the north side, and was salvaged in 1989 by
Magone Marine. (Dan Magone)
Atka
Is., 1988, Oct., the 92Õ steel U.S. F/V City of
Seattle wrecked just
north of the western tip.
Attu
Is., 1750, Russian ship Petr wrecked on a voyage from Kamchatka to
Attu. The crew remained on the island till 1752, when they were taken aboard
the Boris e Gleb.
(Lydia T. Black, Dominique Desson, Early Russian Contact, AK Historical
Commision, 1986)
Attu
Is., 1862, Sept., a
Japanese junk stranded near Attu Is. after having drifted, disabled, for 90
days. The survivors, three out of a crew of twelve, were taken to Nicolaefsky,
Amoor River in 1863, and then returned to Hakodate by a Russian naval vessel.
(Charles Wolcott Brooks, Report of Japanese vessels wrecked in the North
Pacific Ocean, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 1875), (MMS)
Attu
Is., 1871, July, an old
chief at Attu Island, aged 70 years, reported that three Japanese junks had
been lost upon the surrounding islands during his recollection, besides one
stranded not far from the harbor of that island in 1862. (Charles Wolcott
Brooks, Report of Japanese vessels wrecked in the North Pacific Ocean,
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, 1875), (MMS)
Attu
Is., 1943, Jan 5th,
the 6101 ton Japanese ship Kotohiro Maru was bombed and sunk off Attu. (History of U.S. Naval
Operations in WWII, vol. VII)
Attu
Is., 1943, July 19th,
US Army cable ship Dellwood
sank in Massacre Bay after striking a pinnacle rock. (MMS)
Attu
Is., 1981, Mar. 5th,
291Õ 1500 ton Korean M/V Dae Rim
wrecked ½ mile east of Cape Wrangell on the north side. The vessel had
previously suffered a collision with a Soviet vessel, had caught fire, and been
abandoned by its crew 90 miles west of Attu. Twenty-four of the crew of
twenty-six died after abandoning ship. The Dae Rim, still afloat, was taken under tow by
another Soviet vessel, the towline was subsequently lost or cut loose, and Dae
Rim drifted ashore. A
U.S. Navy EOD team, using the U.S.C.G. cutter Boutwell as a platform for operations, set high
explosives on the wreckÕs fuel tanks to vent them and burn off about 110,000
gallons of fuel oil. All but two tanks were ruptured and burned by the
explosive charges, with the Boutwell firing its guns to vent the remaining two. (U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service memorandum 6/2/81, Anchorage Daily News 3/26/84)
Big
Koniuji Is., 1943, Nov.
25th, the liberty ship John P. Gaines broke in two while transiting the area in
a storm. The bow section quickly sank with the loss of 10 crewmen. The stern
section drifted ashore with the surviving crewmembers aboard, and all of these
people were rescued.
Bird
Is., 1914, American
schooner W.H. Dimond dragged
anchor in a storm and stranded, vessel a total loss valued @ $35,000. (C.L.
Andrews, Marine Disasters of the Alaska Route, 1916)
Buldir
Is., 1914, Sept. 20th,
U.S. Revenue Marine cutter Tahoma
wrecked on an uncharted reef 31 miles off Buldir Island. The vessel broke up
the following day, and all crewmen survived by taking to the lifeboats. The
reef took the name of the ship.
Buldir
Is., 1956, Oct. 9th, the
123Õ American coastal tanker Dulcinea stranded on the S. side, all of the crew were rescued.
Salvage attempts were made but ultimately the vessel and its cargo of 285,000
gallons of aviation gasoline became a total loss.
Cape
Lisburne, 1865, July 2nd,
whaling ship Gratitude
stove by ice and sank.(MMS)
Cape
Lisburne, 1950,Swept. 7th,
Basil lost.(MMS)
Carlisle
Is., 1932, Jan. 1st,
diesel F/V Sunrise
lost. (MMS)
Carlisle
Is., 1932 Aug 4th,
diesel screw schooner Eunice
stranded due to fog and faulty compass. (MMS)
Caton
Is., 1924, April 27th,
the 14.7 ton vessel Martha
broke its anchor during a storm, stranded on a reef E.S.E. of the entrance to
Caton Harbor, and broke up. (MMS)
Chamisso
Is., 1899, July 2nd,
the 40 ton vessel Willard Ainsworth
was driven ashore in a S.E. gale. (MMS)
Chernabura
Is., 1882, Nov. 13,
schooner Diomedes Herman
while anchored in Chernabura Harbor was blown from its moorings by an easterly
gale and wrecked against a steep bluff. (MMS)
Chirikof
Is., 1898, April 25th,
former sealing schooner Elsie
while carrying prospectors wrecked on the N.E. shore due to wrong reckoning.
Survivors lived on the island for 41 days before being rescued by the steam
schooner Herman.
(MMS)
Chirikof
Is., 1921, Apr. 21st,
three masted codfishing schooner Joseph Russ struck rocks on the NE shore due to
strong currents, tides, and possible compass deviation and was totally
demolished; 1 lost, 30 made it to shore. Second mate and 5 crew rowed to
Chignik in 11 days and summoned the steamer Dora to the rescue. (MMS)
Chirikof
Is., 1923, June 6th,
theUSS Cardinal wrecked
on the E. side due to a strong N. set and thick weather. While engaged in
rescue of the Cardinal's
crew the survey ship Discoverer
struck a reef about 1.5 miles offshore. (US Coast Pilot)
Chirikof
Is., 1927, Nov. 19th,
gas screw Universe
blown ashore in a gale and wrecked on the E. side. Steamer Star picked up the crew. (MMS)
Chirikof
Is., 1963, 120 ton
wooden ex-subchaser Rande A
driven ashore after parting anchor cable while engaged in loading cattle. (Now
It Can Be Told, Stories of Alaskan Pioneer Ranches, Wanda Marie Fields)
Chirikof
Is., 2002, the landing
craft M/V Flying D grounded
while attempting to load cattle as part of an effort to remove feral cattle
from the island to restore its wildlife values. The refuge responded. No rats
were aboard and it was refloated with some difficulty. (USFWS)
Chowiet
Is., 1907, Oct. 6th,
American schooner St. Paul wrecked
on W. side when anchor chains parted in NW gale. (MMS)
Chowiet
Is., 1981, 108' steel
crabber Pacific Angel
wrecked on the N. side and became a total loss. (USFWS)
Chuginadak,
1989, Oct. 15th,
the122Õ F/V Polar Command
wrecked at the E. end of South Cove, the crew of 26 was rescued, and the vessel
became a total loss. (MMS) Vessel was formerly named Baroid Rocket. (USCG Merch. Vessels of the US, 1981)
Forrester
Is., 1916, May 17th,
gas screw Installer
stranded on the E. shore when the propeller fouled in the anchor line.
Everything saved except the hull. (MMS)
Great
Sitkin Is., 1965 Oct. 26th,
the Greek steamship Ekaterini G.
broke free from a towboat and grounded after losing its propeller at sea. All
of the crew were rescued, but the ship became a total loss. (USFWS)
Herendeen
Is., 1984, Aug. 30th,
the 48Õ Curlew ran
aground and sank, one rescued and three lost. (MMS)
Igitkin
Is., 1980, American F/V Devil
Sea, steel hull, 33
gross tons and 45Õ length, wrecked. (USCG Merchant Vessels of the United
States, 1981.)
Kagalaska
Is., 1901, Feb. 20th,
American schooner Iliamna
wrecked, crew saved.
Kanaga
Is., 1745, Russian ship Eudokia wrecked. (Frederick A. Zeusler,
Explorers Journal, 1960)
Kanaga Is., 1938, Feb. 19th, U.S. Navy minesweeper USS Swallow (AM-4) stranded on rocks at the entrance to Kanaga Bay while conducting work with the Al