AYURUOCA
The Ayuruoca, originally named Roland, was built in 1912 by the Akt
Ges Wessner Bremen Co. in Germany. She was 468 feet in length had a
58 foot beam, and was powered by coal fired steam.
On June 6, 1945, the10,500 ton Brazilian freighter, bound for Rio de
Janeiro, with lend-lease materials, collided with the Norwegian
vessel, General S.S.Fleischer. Both ships had been sailing in a
dense fog at the time of the collision. The Fleischer only suffered
a gash that was above her water line, but the Ayuruoca was not so
lucky. Before she sank, one crew member was lost, and 66 others were
forced to abandon ship. Eye witnesses said that the vessel sunk
within half an hour. All survivors were rescued from their life
boats by the Navy Sub Chaser,SC-1057.
It is said that everyday since 1945, a few drops of oil float to the
surface, hence her new name, Oil Wreck. The Oil Wreck now lies in an
area known as the Mud Hole. She has broken into two pieces that sit
between 160 to 170 feet of water, 15 miles off Ambrose Tower. On her
decks still remain the cargo of trucks, jeeps, and other wartime
vehicles she was carrying. Since this wreck is heavily fished, her
upper decks are covered in monofilament lines and nets. This is what
local divers call a two
knife
wreck. Visibility
in the area, to say the least, is not known to be great. This wreck
is only for experienced professional divers. Remember
penetration into any shipwreck should only be done by those with
proper training, experience and
wreck diving equipment.
Mark Clark and
Capt Dan Bartone with porthole from a trip on 10 June 2007
to the Oil Wreck.
Ayuruoca
shipwreck covered in nets and fishing line. Photos courtesy Brandon
http://downtoolong.com
Congratulations to the crew of the Tenacious on the recovery of
the Oil Wreck's auxiliary helm.
From left to
right: Joe Mazraani, Luis Jimenez, Steve Gatto, Pat Rooney, Tom
Packer, Harold Moyers, Paul McNair, Bart Malone and Mike Dudas.
Not in the group shot: John Butler, Rustin
Cassway, Anthony Tedeschi, Mark Nix, Dave Kennedy, Paul
Whittaker, Chris Tyls and Eric Takakjian.
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Ayuruoca Shipwreck. Courtesy Capt. Dan Berg Wreck Valley Collection.
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Telegraph from the Ayuruoca Shipwreck. Courtesy Capt. Dan Berg Wreck Valley Collection.
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Gary Gentile with the compass from the Ayuruoca Shipwreck. Courtesy Capt. Dan Berg Wreck Valley Collection.
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Capt. John Lancenmayer with artifacts from the Ayuruoca Shipwreck. Courtesy Capt. Dan Berg Wreck Valley Collection.
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Helm from the Ayuruoca Shipwreck. Courtesy Capt. Dan Berg Wreck Valley Collection.
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Mike DeCamp, George Hoffman and friends with artifacts from the Ayuruoca Shipwreck. Courtesy Capt. Dan Berg Wreck Valley Collection.
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Ayuruoca Shipwreck. Courtesy Capt. Dan Berg Wreck Valley Collection.
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