Historical and current New York Shipwreck Information and images for scuba
divers and fisherman.
ACARA
The Acara was a British steel hulled steamship built by Palmers SB &
Iron Company., Ltd., New Castle, England in 1898. She was owned by
James Marke Wood, Liverpool. She was 380 feet in length, had a beam
of 47.3 feet and displaced 4,193 gross and2,677 net tons.
At 2:00 AM, on March1, 1902, the Acara, which is currently referred
to as the Tea Wreck, was enroute from England to New York with a
cargo of 50,000 cases of Chinese tea,14,800 100 pound tin ingots and
an assorted cargo of spices, rubber and gum when she ran aground
just east of Jones Inlet during a heavy gale. The crew was able to
launch two life boats. The first boat carried 44 crew members and
managed to make it to shore. The second boat capsized, spilling 17
men into the freezing surf. Fortunately, the life saving crews of
both Zachs Inlet and Short Beach Inlet came to the Acara's aid, and
due to their heroic efforts, all of the crew members were saved. The
Acara held together for two more days before she finally gave in to
the constant pounding of the sea. She broke into two, taking her
cargo of imported Chinese tea to the bottom. Within months of her
sinking, local salvagers were able to recover 12,000 tin ingots from
her cargo.
Today, The Tea Wreck lies just East of Jones Inlet, 500 to 600 yards
off the shore in about 25 feet of water. She is mostly broken up,
with sand covering much of her ribbing. Parts of her still rise ten
to 15 feet from the bottom, providing a good home for black fish,
sea bass, and lobsters. Divers have found all sorts of artifacts on
this wreck including brass fittings and spikes, while fishermen can
enjoy good fishing close to shore.
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The Acara was a British steel hulled steamship built by Palmers SB &
Iron Company., Ltd., New Castle, England in 1898. She was owned by
James Marke Wood, Liverpool. She was 380 feet in length, had a beam
of 47.3 feet and displaced 4,193 gross and2,677 net tons. 
