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 Aleutian Island Survey Expedition. Crew of 40 officers
and men taken to Dutch Harbor by U.S.C.G. cutter John C. Spencer, ship became a total loss.
Kiska
Is., 1758, Sept. 5th
or 6th, Russian ship Sv. Kapiton, length 17 arshin, wrecked off Kiska. Sv
Kapiton was built in
1750/51 on Bering Island from the wreckage of Sv.Pekup i Zonat. (Lydia T. Black, Proceedings of the
Alaskan Marine Archaeology Workshop, 1983). Ship driven onto reef near island.
Crew reached shore but 17 died while on island. The rest made way to Shemya Is.
where they were rescued by Sv. Petr i Pavel in 1761. (MMS)
Kiska
Is., 1942, June 19th,
Japanese oiler Nissan Maru
bombed and sunk in Kiska Harbor.
Kiska
Is., 1942, July 5th,
Japanese destroyer Arare
torpedoed and sunk at entrance of Kiska Harbor, by U.S. Navy sub USS Growler
(SS-215).
Kiska
Is., 1942, July 15th,
Japanese subchaser SC-25
sunk in Kiska Harbor by U.S. sub USS Grunion (SS-216).
Kiska
Is., 1942, July 15th,
Japanese subchaser SC-27
sunk in Kiska Harbor by U.S. sub USS Grunion.
Kiska
Is., 1942, July 30th,
U.S. Navy submarine USS Grunion
went missing in vicinity of Kiska Is., presumed sunk by a Japanese mine.
(History of U.S. Naval Operations in WWII, volume VII)
Kiska
Is., 1942, Aug. 8th,
8,572 ton Japanese cargo vessel Kano Maru, previously damaged by a torpedo from USS
Grunion, sunk at Kiska
Harbor by U.S. Navy Catalinas. (History of U.S. Naval Operations in WWII, vol.
VII)
Kiska
Is., 1942, Sept. 15th,
7,190 ton Japanese troop transport Nozima Maru bombed and sunk at Kiska Harbor. Only
the bow section remains, grounded near the beach; the stern section was re-floated
in 1956 by the American salvage tug Salvage King, and
taken in tow to Japan by Salvage King and the Canadian salvage tug Sudbury II.
Kiska
Is., 1942, Oct. 5th,
5,863 ton Japanese steamship Borneo Maru bombed and sunk at Gertrude Cove, Kiska Is.
Kiska
Is., 1942, Oct. 17th,
Japanese supply destroyer Oboro
bombed and sunk at Kiska Is.
Kiska
Is., 1942, Nov. 4th,
Japanese submarine RO-65
bombed and sunk at Kiska Is.
Kiska
Is., 1943, Jan. 5th,
6577 ton Japanese ship Montreal Maru was bombed and sunk at Kiska. (History of U.S. Naval
Operations in WWII, vol. VII)
Kiska
Is., 1943, Apr.4th,
Japanese steamship Uragio Maru
bombed and sunk at Kiska Harbor.
Kiska
Is., 1943, May 14th,
Japanese submarine I-31
sunk by US forces. (MMS)
Kiska
Is., 1943, June 23rd,
Japanese submarine I-7
sunk by US forces. (MMS)
Korovin
Is., 1883, Sept. 4th,
schooner Wild Gazelle
stranded on an unknown reef in fog, darkness, and strong currents. (MMS)
Nagai
Is., 1905, Nov. 7th,
schooner (ex-steamer) Margery
wrecked on E. side of Sanborn Harbor, W. coast of island after chains parted in
gale. (MMS)
Nagai
Is., 1911, three masted
codfishing schooner Czarina
stranded on the E. side on improperly charted reef and was ground to pieces
during heavy gale. Crew of 10 rescued by steamer Dora. (MMS)
Near
Islands, 1750, Russian
ship Sv. Petr wrecked
in Near Islands group, the survivors were rescued by the ship Sv. Boris i
Gleb in 1752. (Lydia T.
Black, Proceedings of the Alaskan Marine Archaeology Workshop, 1983)
Pinnacle
Is., 1916, Aug. 10th,
gas screw Great Bear
grounded 7 miles off W. side of St Matthew Is. due to lack of knowledge of
currents, crew rescued by USCG cutter McCulloch. (MMS)
Popof
Is., 1888, Aug. 27th,
schooner Vanderbilt
stranded at Pirate Cove in severe storm. (MMS)
Popof
Is., 1905, Dec. 20th,
scow schooner Pirate
went ashore on rocky point at Red Bluff, N. end of island in snow squall. (MMS)
Prince
William Sound, 1989, the
oil tanker Exxon Valdez grounded,
spilling 11 million gallons of oil
Rat
Is., 1780, unknown
Japanese wreck near Rat Island.
Rats escaping the wreck invaded the island and it has been known ever
since as Rat Is. Before the rat infestation the island was called Hawadax. (Lydia T Black, Proceedings of
the Alaskan Marine Archaeology Workshop, 1983)
Rat
Is., 1969, Feb. 1st,
the134Õ Japanese F/V Fukuyoski Maru # 15 in a sinking condition was intentionally run aground in a
shallow sandy cove on the Pacific side, about a mile from the western end of
the island. (BSFW memorandum, 3/6/69)
St.
George Is., 1899, Sept.
28th, the iron steamer Laurada sprang a leak, ran ashore and was stranded. Crew and
passengers rescued by USRC Corwin.
(MMS)
St.
George Is., 1928, Aug.19th,
the American schooner Maweema
stranded in dense fog and wrecked, crew of 31 safely reached shore. (MMS)
St.
George Is., 1994, Feb.1st,
the 97Õ American F/V Belair
grounded on a seal rookery on S.side.The crew of 6 was lifted by a CG
helicopter from the cutter Rush.
(MMS)
St
George Is., 1996, Feb.
29thÕ, the154Õ F/V All American grounded on the N. side and broke up;
16,000 gallons of fuel lifted off vessel by helicopter. (MMS)
St.
Matthew Is., 1989, Nov.
15th, the 485Õ, 8105 ton Greek ship Milos Reefer wrecked at Glory of Russia Cape. (USFWS)
St.
Paul Is., 1791, Russian
ship John the Forerunner wrecked
on St. Paul Is. (Frederick A. Zeisler, Explorers Journal, 1960)
St.
Paul Is., 1858, May 20th,
French whaling ship Napoleon III stove
by ice. (MMS)
St.
Paul Is., 1892, Apr. 12th,
whaling brig Alexander
stranded on a reef on the NW end due to miscalculation of tides. (MMS)
St.
Paul Is., 1910, U.S.
Revenue Marine cutter Perry
wrecked on Tonki Point Reef while on seal patrol. (Frederick A Zeisler,
Explorers Journal, 1960), (MMS)
St.
Paul Is., 1979, Nov. 8th,
327Õ Japanese trawler/factory ship Ryuyo Maru No. 2 stranded on the NE shore of Village Cove
while attempting to transfer a US Fisheries agent ashore, spilling an estimated
40,000 gallons of oil. The vessel was blown up by a US Navy Explosive Ordnance
Detachment from Adak, AK on 11/22/79, although it had been broken up
considerably by seas almost immediately after it grounded. (Cold Weather
Response F/V Ryuyo Maru No. 2
, St Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska, Lt. G.A. Reiter, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific
Strike Team, NSF)
St
Paul Is., 1987, March 20th,
340Õ American fish processor All Alaskan grounded at St. Paul Is., crew rescued, ship and cargo
became a total loss. Wreck was later cut up and removed.(USFWS)
St.
Paul Is., 1987, March 21st,
80' steel F/V Ocean Clipper
wrecked on S. side of St. Paul Is. when anchor dragged during storm, crew of
six made it to a nearby reef in raft, were taken to St. Paul by USCG cutter Midgett.
(USFWS)
St.
Paul Is., 1989, Mar. 26th,
157Õ steel F/V Terminator
wrecked on St. Paul after a steering failure, crew of seven rescued, vessel was
a total loss. Magone Diving and Salvage later removed the wreckage.
St.
Paul Is., 1990, Mar. 15th,
92Õ steel F/V Alaskan Monarch
grounded just outside of the harbor after suffering a steering failure in heavy
ice, crew rescued, vessel became a total loss. Magone Diving and Salvage later
removed the wreckage.
St.
Paul Is., 1994, Feb 22nd,
117Õ steel F/V Chevak
grounded near Reef Pt., St Paul Is., 7 crew rescued by a launch from USCG
cutter Hamilton.
(MMS)
Sanak
Is. group, 1890, April
26th, ship Oneida
stranded on Hamings Rock 10 mi. SW of Sanak Is. and immediately broke up with
the loss of 77 Chinese passengers, the cargo, and the ship itself. Fifty of the
passengers and the 28 crew were saved. In the Dictionary of Alaska Place Names,
DOI, Donald J. Orth, 1967, in the listing for Oneida Rock, states: "Name
reported by Ferdinand Westdahl, USC&GS, commander of the Coast Survey
steamer McArthur, who made surveys in this area in 1901." Hamings Rock may
have acquired the popular name Oneida Rock in the aftermath of the wreck, with
the name becoming official in the USC&GS survey of 1901. Fifty of the
passengers and the crew of 28 survived. (MMS, American Merchant Ships,
1850-1900, Frederick C. Matthews, & US Customs casualty report)
Sanak
Is. group, 1890, Aug. 17th, schooner Spencer
F. Baird stranded in
gale 2.5 mi. E of Sanak Is. in gale while trying to make harbor. (MMS)
Samalga
Is., 1919, Aug. 4th,
schooner Lettie
stranded and lost on Samalga Reef. (MMS)
Sedanka
Is. (Biorka Is.), 1794,
May 10th, Japanese junk Wakamiya Maru wrecked at Unalaska Island after drifting
disabled for six months from Japanese waters. The crew of 15 men survived the
ordeal, spent ten months on Unalaska, and then was taken to Okhotsk, Russia.
The Russians got four of the sailors back to Japan after 11 years and via
circumnavigation of the globe. (The Wreck of the Wakamiya Maru, published in
English by Stewart Culin in 1920). There is a theory that the vessel wrecked in Unalga Pass. (Lydia T.
Black, Proceedings of the Alaskan Marine Archaeology Workshop, 1983)
Seguam
Is., 1989, Aug. 10th,
32Õ F/V Kamakaze
wrecked. (MMS)
Semichi
Islands, 1914, schooner Trilby drfted onto beach in heavy wind and
swell and stranded. (MMS)
Shemya
Is., 1762, Russian
vessel Sv.Petr i Pavel wrecked
at Shemya Is., most of the crew survived. A theory exists that this was the
same vessel that was built by the survivors of the Sv. Iermiia wreck on Adak Is. in 1753. (Lydia T.
Black, Proceedings of the Alaskan Marine Archaeology Workshop, 1983). Some crew
made way to Attu in a baidarka. (MMS)
Shemya
Is., 1943, June 11th,
Japanese submarine I-24
sunk by US forces. (MMS)
Shemya
Is., 1958, Oct.22nd,
American fuel barge Barge #18
wrecked at the head of Alcan Harbor while being towed by the tug Wando (MMS).
Shemya
Is., 1943, Dec. 23rd,
2649 ton American freighter Scotia
parted its moorings and sank, reputedly with hundreds of cases of holiday beer
still in its hold. (MMS)
Shemya
Is., 1988, Dec. 6th,
139Õ steel F/V Opty
wrecked near the dock at Alcan Harbor. (USFWS)
Shumagin
Is., 1963, June 8th,
the 128 ton Sea Rose stranded
at Seal Cape. (MMS)
Simeonof
Is., 1907, May 25th,
gas schooner Rita Newman
ran onto rocks on the S.W. side due to dense fog and a chronometer that was out
7 minutes. (MMS)(C.L. Andrews, Marine Disasters of the Alaska Route, 1916)
Sozavarika
Is., 1983 or 1984, 82Õ
steel F/V Jupiter
drifted ashore after parting its moorings at King Cove.
Suklik
Is., 1792, Russian
vessel Orel lost. May
have happened at Sutwik Is. (MMS)
Sutwik
Is., 1917, Aug. 30th,
gas screw Hunter
struck a rock at Foggy Cape and sank in 4 minutes, no loss of life. (MMS)
Tigalda
Is., 1898, Aug. 7th,
American square-rigged ship Guardian stranded on rocks N. of Tigalda Is. in dense fog, crew of
23 rescued with some rowing 23 miles to Unalaska. Total loss, valued @ $12,000.
(U.S. Customs records, Seattle, C.L. Andrews, Marine Disasters of the Alaska
Route, 1916) Location of wreck has been variously described as Unimak Pass and
rocks North of Tigalda Is.
Ugamak
Is., 1900, July 26th,
two masted Canadian schooner Minnie
driven onto a reef in dense fog. The crew escaped to shore in lifeboats and
were later rescued by the steamer Alliance and the schooner Walter L. Rich. (MMS)
Ugamak
Is., 1929, Feb.12th,
4383 ton American steam freighter Alloway ran aground on the N. side following engine failure. The
crew of 35 was rescued but the ship and cargo of lumber were lost, valued @
approx. $200,000. (U.S. Customs Report of Casualty, Port of Unalaska).
Ulak (Delarofs), 1964, Dec. 1st, 521Õ Liberian
steamship San Patrick
wrecked on Ulak Is. and broke up quickly with loss of its entire crew of 32.
Ulak (Delarofs), 1987, Mar.8th, the steel 123Õ
F/V Birgit N.
grounded at Patton Cove, crew rescued, vessel became a total loss.
Uliaga
Is., 1987, May 6th,
227Õ South Korean fish processor Tae Woong # 603 grounded, crew of 49 rescued, vessel
became a total loss. Fuel tanks holding about 100,000 gallons of diesel oil
were explosively vented and burned on May 14th by a team from
Underwater Construction and Aleutian Explosives, supervised by NOAA and Alaska
DEC. (Aleutian Eagle, 5/21/87)
Umnak
Is., 1764, Russian ship Trinity wrecked on Umnak Is. (Frederick A.
Zeusler, Explorers Journal, 1960)
Umnak
Is., 1764, Jan. 1st,
Russian ship Sv. Ioann
burned by Aleuts in Nikolski Bay after they took what they wanted. (MMS)
Umnak
Is., 1851, May 17th,
the ship New Bedford
ran aground near Umnak Is. (MMS)
Umnak
Is., 1879, Dec. 5th,
the schooner Bella stranded
in a storm. (MMS)
Umnak
Is., 1902, Sept. 6th,
the schooner J.B. Ward parted
anchor chains in a gale, stranded and was wrecked at Inanudak Bay. Revenue
cutter Manning took
crew and passengers to Unalaska. (MMS)
Umnak
Is., 1927, May 10th,
the 39 gross ton gas screw Everett Hays stranded at Nikolski. Vessel and cargo of tin cans and cannery
supplies were total losses. (MMS)
Umnak
Is., 1933, Jan 24th,
the diesel screw Umnak Native
parted its anchor chain in Cemetery Bay during a storm. The engine wouldnÕt
start and the vessel stranded, leading to the loss of 10 passengers and one
crewman. (MMS)(Bill Ermeloff)
Umnak
Is., 1982, Oct. 15th,
the F/V Equinox
grounded at Cape Tenak after the engines died. (MMS)
Umnak
Is., 1988, Feb. 21st,
the 137Õ longliner Alaska Star
stranded at Nikolski Bay. (MMS)
Unalaska
Is., 1790, Oct. 1st,
the Russian vessel Tri Sviatitelia
broke up in Kashega Harbor in a strong storm. Much of the cargo was salvaged.
(MMS)
Unalaska
Is., 1801, Jan 1st,
Russian vessel Sv. Arkhistrati Mikhail lost. (MMS)
Unalaska
Is., 1802, Jan. 1st,
Russian vessel Predpiiatie Sv. Alexandry lost. (MMS)
Unalaska
Is., 1894, Aug. 20th,
American schooner Two Brothers
stranded on SE side of Constantine Bay when sails were carried away by wind,
total loss valued at $1,250. (C.L. Andrews, Marine Disasters of the Alaska
Route, 1916), (MMS)
Unalaska
Is., 1914, May 21st,
gas screw Pandora
took on water in strong SW gale. Anchor line was cut in an attempt to save
vessel but it was blown ashore and wrecked in a cove 6 miles from Biorka Pass.
(MMS)
Unalaska
Is., 1922, Nov. 17th,
gas screw Lister
stranded and wrecked at Cape Makushin due to compass malfunction and darkness.
(MMS)
Unalaska
Is., late 1940Õs, the
burned out hulk of the American steamship Northwestern sank at itÕs mooring at the head of
Captains Bay. The decommissioned ship was moored in Dutch Harbor as a floating
dormitory and power station during WWII and was bombed by Japanese aircraft.
Unalaska
Is., 1898, Mar. 1st,
American side-wheel steamer Eliza Anderson stranded in Unalaska Bay, eventually
broke up. Valued @ $10,000, U.S. Customs records, Juneau. (C.L. Andrews, Marine
Disasters of the Alaska Route, 1916)
Unalaska
Is., 1997, Nov. 26th,
367Õ, 4160 gross ton Japanese freighter Kuroshima stranded at Summers Bay after dragging
anchor in a storm. Approx. 39,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil spilled from
breached tanks. Vessel refloated byMagone Marine
in Sept. 1998.
Unalaska
Is., 1989, Jan 11th,
275Õ Korean F/V Chil Bo San #6
grounded; 54 crewmembers rescued. (MMS) Wreck was later removed by Magone
Marine Services.
Unalaska
Is., 2001, Jan. 23rd,
American F/V Miss Marie
deliberately grounded in Makushin Bay after the vessel began flooding through
the sea valve. Vessel was patched and recovered by Magone Marine Services.
(ADEC Div. of Spill Prevention and Response)
Unalaska
Is., Reese Bay on the
north side: the overturned hull of a steel vessel, approx. 100Õ long with hard
chines is up on the beach.
Unalga
Is., 1980, Nov. 26th,
90Õsteel F/V Mary Jane
wrecked. Crew rescued, but the vessel became a total loss. Estimated 5000
gallons of fuel spilled.(MMS)
Unalga
Is., 1991, U.S. F/V Pegasus wrecked, salvaged by Magone Marine
Services in the same year. (Dan Magone)
Unalga
Is., 2004, July 31st,
the 5218 ton Bahamian cruise ship Clipper Odyssey grounded on the N.E. corner in Baby
Pass, resulting in a small #2 diesel fuel spill. (ADEC)
Unimak
Is., 1879, Oct. 30th,
American schooner Bella
went ashore in a storm, vessel was a total loss. (C.L. Andrews, Marine
Disasters of the Alaska Route, 1916)
Unimak
Is., 1896, Sept.7th,
American schooner Hueneme struck
a rock near Scotch Cap, Unimak Is. during SE squalls and immediately started to
break up. Crew rescued but ship and cargo lost.
Unimak
Is., 1898, wreckage of
an unknown steam barge found on beach near Cape Sarichef. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1900, Aug. 12th,
ship Mercury sprang a
leak and was beached on the N. side. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1901, Aug 7th,
four masted schooner James Sennett
stranded 2 miles above Scotch Cap due to strong tide rips and fog. The captain
manned a boat and sailed to Dutch Harbor and then to Seattle for assistance. He
went back to attempt salvage of the vessel but found it had broken up. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1902, December 6th,
27 ton American schooner J.B. Ward
wrecked on Unimak Is., total loss valued @ $2,000, U.S Customs records, Juneau.
(C.L. Andrews, Marine Disasters of the Alaska Route, 1916)
Unimak
Is., 1907, Sept.30th,
American schooner Glen
stranded at E. Anchor Cove.
Unimak
Is., 1908, Jan. 8th,
American schooner John F. Miller wrecked
at E. Anchor Cove while attempting to salvage Glen, 10 lives lost.
Unimak
Is., 1909, Apr. 30th,
American square-rigged ship Columbia wrecked at Unimak Bay, Unimak Is. in dead calm with a load
of cannery supplies. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1917, May 14th,
the 1,898 ton American sailing ship St. Francis stranded 1 mi. S. of Middle Point after
missing a tack. All 281 crew and cannery workers made it to shore and were
rescued by the Norwood and
steamer Goliah. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1919, May 13th,
307 ton American three masted schooner Premier stranded at Cape Lutke, 18 miles E. of
Scotch Cap due to thick weather and adverse currents and broke up immediately.
The crew was rescued by the steamer Kvichak. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1931, Sept. 22nd,
gas screw Gladiator
stranded 20 mi. NE of Cape Sarichef when the steering gear broke. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1942, Mar. 18th,
Alaska Steamship liner Mt. McKinley
wrecked at Scotch Cap. No loss of life but the ship became a total loss.
Unimak
Is., 1943, Nov.21st,
Russian steamship Turksib
wrecked at Seal Cape, no loss of life, ship became total loss.
Unimak
Is., 1943, American
salvage ship USS Rescuer (ARS-18)
wrecked at Seal Cape while attempting to salvage SS Turksib, one crewmember killed.
Unimak
Is., 1955, Aug. 10th,
256 ton oil screw North King
stranded between Sennett Point and Scotch Cap. (MMS)
Unimak
Is. 1957, Nov. 4th,
180Õ Cordova Salvar
stranded at Cape Sarichef. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1965, Nov. 26th,
7252 ton Alaska Steamship Lines SS Oduna wrecked at Cape Pankof., no loss of life, 200,000 lbs. of
frozen crab and other cargo salvaged, ship became a total loss.
Unimak
Is., 1966, Dec. 15th,
American F/V Shelikof
grounded at Cape Lazaref, crew rescued, vessel pounded to pieces by seas.
Unimak
Is., 1971, Nov. 7th,
80Õ F/V Lynda
stranded near Cape Mordvinof. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1985, Dec. 6th,
75Õ F/V Pacific Voyager struck
a rock at Cape Pankof and broke up. (MMS)
Unimak
Is., 1988, Sept., steel
landing craft Retriever
stranded 1.5 mi. W of Cape Lazaref near Rock Island. Attempts to refloat it
were unsuccessful
Unimak
Is., 1999, May 8th,
American F/V Controller Bay
grounded on the N. side at Cave Point due to human error/fatigue. Crew escaped,
vessel broke up quickly and became a total loss. (Dan Magone, Magone Marine
Services, ADEC Division of Spill Prevention and Response)
Unimak
Is., 2000, Feb. 11th,
139Õ F/V American Star
drifted ashore between Cape Lazaref and Cape Aksit after catching fire and
being abandoned by the crew. Vessel was later refloated. In May of 2002 the
hull of American Star
was stripped of machinery, taken offshore, and scuttled.(Dan Magone)
Unga
Is., 1889, June 28th,
schooner Edward S. Webster
stranded on an uncharted rock off entrance to Coal Harbor. Crew escaped to Sand
Point, Popof Is. (MMS)
Unga
Is., 1889, Sept. 15th,
two-masted schooner Island Belle
stranded on the S. shore of Unga Harbor due to missed stays, change of wind,
and heavy seas. (MMS)
Unga
Is., 1891, April 15th,
two-masted schooner Dashing Wave
stranded at Coal Bay (Zachary Bay) in snowstorm. (MMS)
Unga
Is., 1892, Aug. 31st,
schooner Active
stranded at Morosco Bay in strong gale and rough seas. (MMS)
Unga
Is., 1904, Feb. 23rd,
two-masted schooner Mary and Ida
blown ashore by violent NW hurricane and wrecked while at anchor off Unga Is.
codfish station. (MMS)
Unga
Is., 1905, schooner Mary
Ann wrecked on W. side
of Unga Harbor in hurricane force winds. Barometer was 27.85. (MMS)
Unga
Is., 1913, Oct. 17th,
gas screw Ellida
dismasted in hurricane and stranded after breaking loose from moorings. (MMS)
Unga
Is., 1915, Mar. 13th,
gas screw Nonpareil blew
ashore and sank in heavy blow after chains parted. (MMS)
Wosnesenski
Is., 1904, Dec. 27th,
schooner Lesnoy
wrecked on N.W. end in a N.W. gale. (MMS)
Yunaska
Is., 1988, Feb. 17th,
the 100Õ Captain Billy
was grounded and destroyed. (MMS)
Yunaska
Is., 1988, May 30th,
86Õ Golden Venture capsized
and sank, one lost. (MMS)
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