Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory Archive

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SBB-28: Coal Ship William Carson

Survey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonSurvey: William CarsonHistoric photo: wrecked William CarsonHistoric photo: William Carson paintingHistoric Photo: J Rolf and G HindHistoric photo: William CarsonDiagram: KohalaLogo: Hind Rolf and CoArticle: William Carson now a derelict August 7Article: Still afloat PCA December 27, 1899


HURL Artifact No. SBB-28 *Denotes approximations and speculations
Name: William Carson Lost: December 27, 1899
Artifact Type: Sailing Ship Found: ~2003 by Technical Divers (HURL Survey August 13, 2013)
Nationality: USA Dive No: PV-821
Class or Make: Barkentine Location: Kewalo
Model: 4-mast Depth (m): 82m
Purpose: Transporting Coal, Lumber, & Sugar HURL crew: M. Cremer, S. Rowley, M. Ross
Serial Number: 81647 Additional Dives:
Built/Launched: Hans Bendixsen Shipyard, Farhaven, CA June 3, 1899
Length: 195'
Width: 40'
Height:
Circumstance of Loss: Sank Crew Personnel/Position: Captain and 12 Crewmen
Reason of Loss: Collision Crew Survivals/Fatalities: All rescued and survived
Artifact History: Sometime around 2003 this wreck site was found by divers using rebreathers. It was visited by the Pisces V in 2013 in conjunction with technical divers from the Bishop Museum who were surveying fish habitats along the 100m contour along Oahu's south shore. The submersible located the site and sent up a marker for the divers to follow, but did not really survey the location, only parked just off the downslope (bow end) side of the wreck while the divers surveyed the habitat. Later HURL conducted a historical study of the site largely based on images and interviews with various technical divers. For more on the results and theories regarding this site see "The Kewalo Coal Ship".
Artifact Condition: The ship has largely dilapidated to rubble. Large amounts of coal can be seen throughout much of the site. On the downslope end there are numerous components that would indicate it as being the bow including a capstan, and anchor chain hawse.
Additional Information: A large anchor was found upslope 650' to the east of this wreck.