Carthaginian II

Carthaginian II was a steel-hulled brig outfitted as a whaler, which served as a symbol of that industry in the harbor of the former whaling town Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui. She replaced the original Carthaginian, a schooner converted into a barque to resemble a period whaler, which had initiated the role of museum ship there in 1967.

Carthaginian II in 1997, while a museum in Lahaina Harbor
History
NameMary, Familiens Haab, Komet
BuilderFr. Krupp Germania Shipyard, Kiel
Yard number388
Completed1920
Out of service1970
FateSold to Lahaina Restoration Foundation, 1972
History
NameCarthaginian II
OwnerLahaina Restoration Foundation
Acquired1972
IdentificationIMO number: 5192080
FateSunk, December 13, 2005
General characteristics
Typetwo-mast square-rigged whaler, auxiliary motor power
Tonnage140 short tons (130 t) (gross)
Length30 metres (98 ft)
Beam6.7 metres (22 ft)
Draft2.1 metres (6 ft 11 in)

Carthaginian II was built in Germany as a schooner in 1920 and christened as Mary. She was brought to Maui in 1973, re-rigged, and served as a whaling museum until 2005, and after being sunk to create an artificial reef, now serves as a diving destination.

History

The vessel was built in 1920 in Kiel, Germany, as a two-masted schooner at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard. Christened as Mary, she was just under 30 metres (98 ft) long, with a nominal displacement of 125 short tons (113 t) (gross).[1]

Mary was one of a group of forty ships completed at Kiel intended to operate primarily under motor power, with auxiliary sail. [1] Terms imposed in the wake of the World War I Armistice required Germany to hand over all new ships built as large steam or motor vessels.

As Komet in Sweden

As a result, Mary was sold shortly after completion to Denmark, and renamed Familiens Haab in 1922. In 1923 she was sold to Sweden and renamed Komet. She worked the Baltic Sea as a freighter hauling cement until 1970 and was decommissioned.[2] Because Krupp had built her hull using steel that had been intended for U-boats, Komet (and her sisters) developed a reputation for longevity.[1]

Komet was purchased in 1973 by the non-profit "Lahaina Restoration Foundation" (LRF). for approximately $21,000 and motored from Søby, Denmark to Hawaii by an all-Lahaina crew.[3] The 105 day passage,[2] via Madeira and the Panama Canal, arrived on September 7, 1973.[1] After installing 15 short tons (14 t) of cement and steel ballast to counterbalance a heavy square rig being assembled onshore to replace its original streamlined schooner sail plan, it was renamed Carthaginian II and restored over several years. Masts made of spruce, a deck of eucalyptus, and other details for a whaling supply ship of the 19th century were installed. In 1980, the ship was opened as a floating whaling museum.[4]

Underwater in 2017

The addition of internal ballast allowed moisture to condense between it and the steel hull, which rusted to a point where it nearly split in half. LRF was spending $50,000 per year to maintain the ship.

In 2003, LRF approached Atlantis Submarines, a local tourist concern, proposing to sell Carthaginian II to be sunk as a underwater attraction. Atlantis spent $350,000 on an environmental study and cleaning her in preparation for becoming an artificial reef. On December 13, 2005, the boat was towed and sunk at a depth of approximately 97 feet (30 m), 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) off the coast near Puamana Beach Park. It serves as a destination for diving expeditions and submarine tours.[5][6] Scuba Diving and Sport Diver have rated the site as one of the top locations for shipwreck diving.[7][8]

LRF was given 120 days to replace the vessel before the berth would be reclaimed for commercial operations.[9][10] The berth was proposed as a potential home for the voyaging canoes Mo'okiha o Pi'ilani[11] or Mo'olele,[12] but Mo'okiha was berthed at Maalea Harbor instead in 2016.[13]

References
  1. Frederichsen, Frederik (1981). Danske Motorsejlere af Tyske Krigsskibsmaterialer [Danish Motor Sailers of German War Ship Materials] (PDF). pp. 102–109. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  2. Schäuffelen, Otmar (2005). Chapman Great Sailing Ships of the World [Die Letzen Grossen Segelshiffe]. Translated by Servais, Casey. New York, New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. pp. 347–348. ISBN 1-58816-384-9. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  3. Apple, Russell A. (December 21, 1973). Lahaina (Historic District) (Report). National Park Service. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  4. Denenberg, R. V. (September 19, 1982). "Around Maui, Sunrise to Sunset". The New York Times. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  5. Sens, Josh (July 28, 2006). "Kids? Maui Makes It Easy". The New York Times. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  6. "Five years later, Carthaginian II a thriving artificial reef". Lahaina News. December 30, 2010. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  7. Morton, Brooke (May 16, 2014). "25 Best Wreck Diving Spots in the U.S." Scuba Diving. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  8. "The World's 50 Best Wrecks". Sport Diver. January 14, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  9. Wilson, Christie (December 14, 2005). "Lahaina icon sinks into deep sleep". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  10. San Nicolas, Claudine (December 14, 2005). "Carthaginian Sunk". Maui News. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
  11. Kubota, Gary T. (January 12, 2007). "Crew members also helping build voyaging canoe on Maui". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  12. Kubota, Gary T. (May 1, 2006). "Canoes expand horizons of Maui public education". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  13. "Mo'okiha o Pi'ilani has a new home". Lahaina News. April 21, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
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