Celtic / Cape Race

Shipwreck Celtic
Type:
Celtic - shipwreck, canal tugboat, USA
Cape Race - shipwreck, barge, Oyster Bay NY USA
Built:
Celtic - 1958, Jakobson Shipyard, Oyster Bay NY USA as Russell 10
Specs:
Celtic - ( 85 ft ) 6 crew
Cape Race - ( 150 ft )
Sunk:
Saturday November 17, 1984
barge foundered, pulling tug down with it - no survivors
Depth:
60 ft

Built in 1958, by Jakobson Shipyard of Oyster Bay, New York (hull #383) as the tug Russell 10 for the Russell Brothers Towing Company of New York, New York. In 1961, the tug was acquired by the McAllister Brothers Towing Company of New York, New York, and in 1963 she was renamed Judith McAllister. In 1978, the tug was acquired by the Eklof Marine Corporation of Staten Island, New York, and renamed Celtic.

On November 17th, 1984 she was towing the 145 x 45 ft barge Cape Race via Long Island Sound from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Port Newark New Jersey. When the Celtic failed to answer radio calls and did not arrive on schedule the Coast Guard was contacted. The Coast Guard located the Celtic under an oil slick in 70 ft of water. She was 1.5 miles south of Sheffield Island. The position of the sunken tug is marked by buoy "WR-28" at Sheffield Island near Norwalk, Connecticut.

The bodies of her five crew members were retrieved by police divers. It is speculated that the tug was pulled down when the barge sank. The wreck remains intact and upright with barge still attached by her hawser. She was a single screw tug rated at 1,600 horsepower.

tugboatinformation.com


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Dive boat operations in the Northeast are significantly different from those you may be used to in the tropics. For this discussion, "Northeast" may be taken to mean any place north of Florida, or south at least to North Carolina.

The typical going rate for boat diving in New Jersey is about $65 for a one-tank excursion, $90-100 for a two-tank excursion. With recent fuel prices, you can expect a small surcharge as well. Longer, deeper, or special trips may cost more. A non-refundable deposit or credit card number is generally required to make the reservation. Once onboard, the crew will do all they can to make your trip a good one, so don't forget that it is customary to leave a tip for them as well - at least $5-$10, more if one of them did something special, like retrieve what you dropped overboard, or save your life. Tips go to the chief mate, not the captain.