The entire foredeck was swallowed in 6’ of water. Occasionally bluefin tuna are caught near the wreck. Petty Officer 2nd Class Greg Pesch, the avionics electrical technician aboard the helicopter, volunteered to go down on the hoist cable. The wreck resulted in some of the most important maritime reforms in the second half of the 20th century. The converted WWII-era ship foundered 30 miles off the coast of Virginia and capsized, throwing most of its 34 crew into 37-degree water, where 31 of them drowned or succumbed to hypothermia. An able-bodied seaman relieved the watch and peered forward, noticing for the first time that the ship’s bow seemed to be riding unusually low in the water. BY CG 2/16/83, DIVERS AND SIDE SCAN SONAR. “He championed marine safety and pursued the truth even at the risk of his career of a Coast Guard officer.”. Chaos ensued. The AWOIS listing on the Marine Electric follows: CL298/83–5TH CGD TO AMC; S/S MARINE ELECTRIC SUNK ON 2/12/83 IN APPROX. Thirty-one of the 34 crew members died. SS Marine Electric, was a 605-foot bulk carrier, that sank on 12 February 1983, about 30 miles off the coast of Virginia, in 130 feet of water. Thirty-six years ago this week, the SS Marine Electric sank off the coast of Virginia with the loss of 34 officers and crew. We had to try something.”. By the next morning, the seas were between 20 and 40 feet, with winds up at 60 knots. QMCM Rick Hamilton, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.). Meanwhile, more Coast Guard and Navy rescue crews converged on the scene to search for survivors. The Marine Electric was a coal carrier. The vessel left Norfolk, VA on February 10, 1983 carrying a cargo of 25,000 tons of coal. Domenic A. Calicchio, USCG the recognition that he so well deserved. By Corinne Zilnicki 2019-02-11 . I was an SNQM. “We need someone to come out and give us some assistance, if possible.”. The ship was battered for hours by huge seas, some of them 35 feet high. I remember being a rescue swimmer in Confidence WMEC-619 out of Kodak Alaska. At 2:30 a.m., the ship’s master, Phillip Corl, summoned his chief mate, Robert Cusick, to the bridge and shared his fears: the bow was settling, they were taking on too much water, and the crew was in real trouble. Argo and Edmund Fitzgerald are both in Canadian waters but would impact U.S. resources. SS Marine Electric, a 605-foot bulk carrier, sank on 12 February 1983, about 30 miles off the coast of Virginia. Marine Electric - Stern 37 52.727N 74 46.204W #352. “All the time I kept looking out and yelling out, ‘lifeboat here,’ just continually yelling out to keep myself going,” the chief mate said. Pesch’s descent in the rescue basket was a harrowing one. SS Atlantus. This is the port passage way. 37-52-47N, LONG. 30 NM OFF COAST OF CHINCOTEAGUE, VA). Their 31 shipmates had either succumbed to hypothermia or drowned. Seas were rough and skies were overcast. Smith spotted one man and hovered over him, squinting through the whipping snow, trying to decide what to do. The Coast Guard has published its Maritime Commerce Strategic Outlook in preparation for the increasing demand. Free Report: Drones in Maritime and Offshore Services? When the clock tolled 12 a.m. on Feb. 12, 1983, the 605’ cargo ship Marine Electric trekked northward 30 miles off Virginia’s Eastern Shore, plowing slowly through the gale-force winds and waves stirred up by a winter storm. A rescue helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City was immediately dispatched to the scene. The Marine Electric sinking on Feb. 12, 1983. #348. We were steaming slowly. This dive site has an average rating of 4.50 out of 5 from 2 scuba divers. Connection to the sinking of the Marine Electric On February 12, 1983 the ship Marine Electric was carrying a load of coal from Norfolk, Virginia to a power station in Somerset, Massachusetts. There were only three survivors. Lies in 80 ft of water. The wreck is in two major pieces in about 125 feet of water at roughly 37 52.896N 74 46.558W. She was originally built in 1944 and then refitted in 1962 to be 607 feet long. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit in Houma spotlighted, Coast Guard revises marine casualty reporting, Coast Guard clarifies marine casualty reporting requirements, Coast Guard adopts new marine casualty reports. The Marine Electric shipwreck also served as the genesis of another crucial development: the Coast Guard rescue swimmer program, which was established in 1984. It is known as a haven for black sea bass, sharks, amberjacks, jack crevelle, cobia, and other species. We got underway that evening and proceeded out of the bay and up the coast to the last known position about 30 miles off Chincoteague. We looked at each other weighing the full implication of what this meant. The wreck locally known as the "Mannacamp" or "Manakept" wreck is the hopper dredge Madaket. At midnight on February 12, 1983, the 605-foot cargo ship Marine Electric was sailing northward 30 miles off Virginia's eastern shore, plowing slowly through the gale-force winds and waves stirred up by a winter storm. At midnight on February 12, 1983, the 605-foot cargo ship Marine Electric was sailing northward 30 miles off Virginia’s eastern shore, plowing slowly through the gale-force winds and waves stirred up by a winter storm. The Marine Electric, shipwreck that changed the Coast Guard. At 2:51 a.m., the captain made the first radio distress call to the Coast Guard. 70 FT. ON MAIN PORTION. The tragedy tightened inspection standards, resulted in mandatory survival suitsfor winter North Atlantic runs, and helped create the now … While the Coast Guard changed many policies to make a safer marine environment after the sinking of the Marine Electric, the service continues to make improvements on its marine safety program today. SS Marine Electric: A Wreck That Changed the Coast Guard Forever Utmost respect to the Coast Guards. “I seem to be taking on water forward,” Corl said. Old Hannibal Wreck – Chesapeake Bay . At 5:20 a.m., the Coast Guard helicopter crew was the first to arrive on scene. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The Coast Guard had long since dispatched an HH-3F Pelican helicopter crew from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and directed the crews of several cutters to the Marine Electric’s position, but the tumultuous weather conditions slowed the rescuers’ progress. Diversified Communications | 121 Free Street, Portland, ME 04101 | +1 207-842-5500, As essential workers, mariners could get priority for Covid vaccine, Hope for the maritime industry in the New Year, International WorkBoat Show Exhibitor Directory. Dense curls of green ocean rushed over the bow, some of them arching 10’ over the deck before crashing back down. This video outlines the Marine Electric shipwreck and the incident’s lasting impact on the Coast Guard. Pictures, dive logs, reviews and articles. Lying with the current the vessel is about 130 ft. x24 ft. x 8 ft. with some decking remaining however no rudder or “bow spirit”. plowing slowly through the gale-force winds and waves stirred up by a winter storm. This following articles provide overviews of shipwrecks and other obstructions in the Mid Atlantic Region, including the Atlantic Coast, Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, and other areas. The investigative report ushered in a wave of marine safety reforms. The aircrew spotted another potential survivor, and although Pesch attempted to descend again, the hoist cable spooled back on itself on the drum. VESSEL BROKEN IN TWO PARTS, SCATTERED DEBRIS. They dropped the rescue basket so he could clamber inside, and then hoisted him into the helicopter. Making it possible: Supporting customers and their supply chains safely and efficiently. Coast Guard image/artwork by P02 Corrine Zilnicki. USS Radford (artificial reef) Marine Electric. Seven were never found. Chief mate Cusick surfaced with a gasp, managed to get his bearings, and spotted a partially-submerged lifeboat nearby. The Marine Electric shipwreck also served as the genesis of another crucial development: the Coast Guard rescue swimmer program, which was established in 1984. U.S. Coast Guard District 5, VA, UNITED STATES 02.11.2019. They made short work of untangling our prop and we were able to merely follow that line down to site of the broken ship. This wreck, the 563-foot USS Arthur Radford, is an exciting addition to the local and national dive industry. We were drifting for a few moments, in to the wind and seas, and I think we were both thinking we could follow this smell a ways and when we came out of it we should be pretty close to where the ship lay on the bottom. The Navy aircrew arrived and deployed McCann, who tore through the oil-slicked waves, searching for survivors. Lt. Ship Wreck 37 55.543N 74 55.578W #349. It sits on the 20 fathom line about 30 miles east of Chincoteague Island, Virginia. “There was no way to know if the man was dead or alive. The main deck was completely awash. Dewey, Kelly and Cusick were the only men pulled from the ocean alive that morning. The maximum depth is 121-130ft/37-40m. Loblaw's Wreck This wooden hull sits off Ogdensburg’s waterfront at about a 52 ft. depth with a noticable current. By 2025, it is estimated that the demand for waterborne commerce worldwide will more than double. I want to congratulate you on a job well done on on your article about the sinking of the Marine Electric and I also want to thank you for giving my brother “Capt. “Calicchio embodied the service’s core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty,” said Thiesen. Note: Blue denotes WWII casualties; tan denotes confirmed location; * denotes unconfirmed location; remaining are unknown locations; ** denotes foreign flagged. Marine Electrical Supplies. After some deliberation, Smith agreed. 118 FT. (APPROX. The Marine Electric neared the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay at about 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, 10 February. “I struggled to maintain a smooth hoist, but I know it was erratic.”. The crew was forced to abort their mission and departed for nearby Salisbury Airport, where the man they had pulled from the water was pronounced dead on arrival by paramedics. An inspection revealed that the holds were filling with sea water. The Shearer Group, Inc. Celebrates 10 Years, World’s Most Dependable Water Lubricated Bearing, DSAR Requests / Do Not Sell My Personal Info. “We all felt helpless,” Smith said. Thirty-one of the 34 crew members were killed. Marine Electric Zone 5 / Depth: 110-130 ft She battled 25-foot (7.6-m) waves and winds gusting to more than 55 miles per hour (89 km/h), fighting the storm to reach port with her cargo. We were to get underway, find the site of the ship, and be a communications platform the divers could work from. Wholesale Marine is proud to offer all the marine electrical supplies needed to rewire and illuminate boats of any size. The program’s physical fitness standards, training and organizational structure were developed over a five-year implementation period, and in March of 1985, Air Station Elizabeth City became the first unit to receive rescue swimmers. THIS WAS A GOOD ACCOUNT OF EVENTS THAT MOTIVATED CHANGE. Capt JT's web site describes the various wreck diving sites off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina. To merely follow that line down to site of the Chesapeake Bay entrance in our area of.... 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