HURL Artifact No. |
SBB-10 |
*Denotes approximations and speculations |
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Name: |
SS Helene |
Lost: |
8-Oct-29 |
Artifact Type: |
Steamship |
Found: |
23-Aug-04 |
Nationality: |
Hawaiian |
Dive No: |
PV-680 |
Class or Make: |
Steamship |
Location: |
South Oahu |
Model: |
Inter-island |
Depth (m): |
505m |
Purpose: |
Freight/Passenger Transport |
HURL crew: |
Kerby, Price, Kelley |
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Serial Number: |
47 |
Additional Dives: |
PIV-194 |
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Built/Launched: |
February 1897; Union Iron Works, San Francisco |
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Length: |
170.6' |
Width: |
30.8' |
Height: |
8.5' |
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Circumstance of Loss: |
Scuttled |
Crew Personnel/Position: |
Unknown |
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Reason of Loss: |
Old Age |
Crew Survivals/Fatalities: |
n/a |
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Artifact History: |
Began it's career with the Wilder Steam Company until it merged into the Inter-island Steam Navigation Company in 1905. As a new vessel Wilder hoped to stimulate tourism with first class passenger service. Later it would also carry cattle. It is nearly identical to the SS Maui. She was sold for scrap along with the Claudine and the Likelike in 1929. |
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Artifact Condition: |
Hull is intact. Superstructure is gone, either removed or deteriorated. Single stack is gone, but the openings for the boiler and donkey boiler are visible. Triple expansion steam engine is clearly visible as wooden decking has mostly decayed away. There is a short portion of handrail coming off the bow piece. A davit is present as are the bow bits and rudder indicator. |
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Additional Information: |
There is a fair amount of colorful anemones, sponges and fish on this artifact. Completely contrary to the SS Mauna Kea found in the vicinity, which is void of such marine life. The length, engine, bow, rudder, and davit all match Helene's plans. The ship was named after Helene Irwin, the popular daughter of sugar factor and Wilder's director and stockholder, W. G. Irwin. |