CAPE HATTERAS CLAIMS ANOTHER ONE

18 April 2020: While we here at Maritime Maunder continue to "shelter in place" many of you are beginning to see signs of loosening up of the restrictions that have kept us safe for the past month and more. We hope that continues and we can al get back to our lives soon! Confinement sits poorly with many and while some are very creative in discovering new ways to not only entertain themselves, but also to teach and entertain their children. Not to mention suppress the odd mutiny!
Last month a scallop boat succumbed to the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," Cape Hatteras. She sits on the hard now, but who knows for how long as the ocean frequently has a way of reclaiming her victims. The following from several North Carolina dailies:
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The haunting sight of a large fishing vessel grounded at Cape Hatteras National Seashore has apparently become too much for explorers to resist, and it’s starting to worry the National Park Service.

A warning has now been issued for people to stay off the rusting hulk known as the Ocean Pursuit.

The 72-foot vessel is unstable in the sand and sits 50 yards from the dry land at high tide. Stay too long and you could be swimming to shore or even floating out to sea.

He didn’t detail the threats aboard the Ocean Pursuit, but the 72-foot vessel is unstable in the sand and sits 50 yards from the dry land at high tide. Stay too long and you could be swimming to shore, or even floating out to sea.

Boats that run aground on the Outer Banks are often broken apart by pounding winds and waves if left too long, experts say. They can also be dragged back out to sea in the right storm conditions.

In the case of the Ocean Pursuit, the vessel has begun slowly sinking into the sand, bow first.

The scallop vessel ran aground on Bodie Island for unexplained reasons on March 1, and its crew was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. It now stands as a visible reminder of the region’s reputation as “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.” Hundreds of vessels have met their demise in the rough currents and shifting sands off North Carolina.

It’s unclear how long the wreck will remain, but all hazardous materials and fuels on board have been removed, Barber told McClatchy News.

“The owner of the Ocean Pursuit has been in contact with us, but is currently unable to provide a time frame for removing the vessel,” Barber said.
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So, you folks in the Hatteras area, stay off the wreck! And all of you stay safe. We'll get through this mess and get on with our lives before long!

Until next time,  
                                   Fair Winds,
                                          Old Salt