2000 Herbert Parker Photos I

All images on this page © 2000 by Christina Young.

The "Herbert Parker" is actually not the real name of a ship, but rather the name this unidentified shipwreck was given when it was found.  This wreck is a very large steel steamer, and has only been dived a few times over the years.  It is approximately 55 miles southeast of Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey, in 190' of water.  We have speculated that this wreck may be the Cayru, or even the Rio Tercero, both freighters sunk in World War II, neither of which have been found.

The following pictures (all images from video) are from the voyage of the Depth Charge to the "Herbert Parker", Sunday, September 3, 2000.

When we get to the site, Joe Mazraani suits up to go tie into the wreck, assisted by Petie Wohlleben and myself.  It is over 90 degrees F, and close to 100% humidity -- just steaming!  Joe can't wait to get in the water to cool off.
When I get down on the wreck, I see this thing lying near the tie-in point.  I'm still trying to figure out what it is.
Bill Cleary searches for lobsters forward of the large superstructure.  A lobster tickler is in his left hand.  There are beams, hull plates, pipes and other pieces of wreckage everywhere - it is apparent that this wreck was a large freighter or perhaps even a tanker.
I swim past the large superstructure heading aft to the boilers.  This large structure is three stories and 30 feet high!
Looking at the starboard side of the structure.
The starboard side of the superstructure has this very strange, large fold in it, the side of a steel wall that buckled over and collapsed.
Aft of the superstructure is a mast stretching up 30 feet.  Although this looks like a crow's nest, it is some sort of fitting.
One of the large boilers.
This is apparently an engine of some kind, with large gears.  If it is a steam turbine, then the wreck is a candidate to be the Cayru.

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