Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory Archive

IN THE SCHOOL OF OCEAN AND EARTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I AT MANOA

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SBB-13: Wooden Barge with cargo boxes

Mosaic: Wooden barge with cargoSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSurvey: Unknown light vesselSidescan: Unknown light vessel


HURL Artifact No. SBB-13 *Denotes approximations and speculations
Name: *YF-555 Lost: *after October 1950
Artifact Type: Light Barge Found: 10-Aug-2001
Nationality: USA Dive No: PIV-207
Class or Make: Wooden Location: Kewalo
Model: Construction Depth (m): 280m
Purpose: *Pile Driving HURL crew: Kerby, Kelley
Serial Number: Unknown Additional Dives: PV-767
Built/Launched: Unknown
Length: *50'
Width: *30'
Height: *8'
Circumstance of Loss: *Sank or scuttled Crew Personnel/Position: n/a
Reason of Loss: Unknown Crew Survivals/Fatalities: n/a
Artifact History: The YF-555 was a pile-driving barge that was owned by Henry Shae who purchased many post war vessels that he could not aford to moor in the harbor. Eventually he had to sink them at sea. The YF-555 ran aground off Kewalo in 1950 near this wreck site.
Artifact Condition: The vessel appears to be wooden and has dilapidated almost entirely. Only the basic outline of the vessel remains along with a rubble of it's metallic and non-decaying components. There are two large cargo containers still present on the bow and the stern. There is no sign of any engine and by its shape is most certainly a barge. A number of concrete pilings are also visible.
Additional Information: It is largely rectangular in shape. It is possible the cargo boxes are concrete for ballast in intentionally sinking the vessel. There is also a number of items in the immediate area that appear to be tools and equipment that might be used in dredging and pile driving. The outline of a metal doorway can be seen indicating it may have had a wooden superstructure at some time.