New Jersey Scuba Diving

Emerald - USS Hibiscus / Frances Wright (2/4)

Shipwreck Emerald
Unique along the entire coast, the twin steam engines of the Emerald pretty much clinch the identification of the wreck.
Shipwreck Emerald
The large box-like structure in the foreground is a condenser. Often, these old engines derived as much motive force from the vacuum draw of the condenser as from the steam pressure of the boilers. Some were even known as vacuum engines.
Shipwreck Emerald
The boilers lie in front of the condenser, and rather broken down. They are smaller than you would think - perhaps these were vacuum engines.
Shipwreck Emerald
Shipwreck Emerald
The rocker arms atop the cylinders are also unique to the Emerald.
Shipwreck Emerald
Detail of the odd side-valve design of the starboard engine, another of the peculiarities of this wreck. The engines are mirror images of each other.
Shipwreck Emerald
The base of one of the engines, where it is linked to a large flywheel and the propeller shaft.
Shipwreck Emerald

Back then many cargoes were shipped in barrels or smaller kegs. Here is the end of a small wooden keg, along with some staves. I can make out the word "WHIT(E)". The vessel's cargo included small barrels of cheese, which survives to this day as a foul-smelling white goo if you are unlucky enough to find any!

Shipwreck Emerald
Here are the remains of a bigger barrel that once stood upright.
Butterflyfish
A late-year Butterflyfish.
lobster
A small lobster dug in under a piece of wreckage. There aren't too many on this site. The Emerald is known mainly as a digging wreck for artifact hunters.
Shipwreck Emerald
Once more, the distinctive engines
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Dive Sites, Manasquan Dive Sites, New Jersey Dive Sites, Steamers,

u05 - AWOIS 7940

H10224/86-88 -- OPR-C121-WH-86-88; SIDE-SCAN SONAR AND DIVER INVESTIGATION OF CONTACT SHOWING DEFINITE WRECK CHARACTERISTICS; DIVERS FOUND A DETERIORATED WOODEN VESSEL WITH ROTTED WOODEN DECK PLANKING WHICH WAS MOSTLY SILTED OVER BY SAND; ONLY LARGE DECK TIMBERS REMAIN; NO MACHINERY FOUND; RIBS WERE OBSERVED RISING UP OFF THE BOTTOM ALONG THE EASTERN SIDE OF WRECK; DIVER GAUGE LEAST DEPTH TAKEN ON TOWING BITS AT THE NORTHERN END OF WRECK; LARGE DECK TIMBERS WERE SEEN ON WESTERN SIDE OF WRECK; 50 FT SW OF MAIN WRECKAGE, DIVERS FOUND WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PORTION OF THE SAME WRECK, RUNNING NW-SE, WOODEN RAIL-LIKE TIMBERS STICKING UP OFF THE BOTTOM 6-8 INCHES; ALSO APPEARS TO BE DETERIORATED; ON SECOND DIVE, A PILE WAS DISCOVERED ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE WRECK AND A PNEUMATIC DEPTH GAUGE LEAST DEPTH OF 46 FT WAS TAKEN ON IT; BEAM MEASURED 40 FT; LENGTH WAS 120 FT. (ENTERED MSD 4/91)

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