Earlier this week, Hurricane Erin’s waves battered Long Beach Island, destroying a historic island monument.
The only reminder of the ship Sea King’s last resting place was a steel mast that protruded above the ground on the shore at Barnegat Light.
The mast was dragged back to sea by the storm on Thursday night.
Gretchen Coyle of the New Jersey Maritime Museum in Beach Haven declared on Saturday that another monument had been lost.
According to research on the museum’s website, on February 12, 1963, the 95-foot trawler Sea King was transporting a decommissioned minesweeper named Prescott to Atlantic City for restoration.
A dense fog left both ships stuck on the Barnegat Shoals. Later, the Prescott was salvaged and refloated.
However, the Sea King was buried in the sand close to 12th Street after being unable to be saved.
The Sea King wound up in the sand dunes, and what was fascinating throughout the years was that it alternated between the sand dunes and the ocean, according to Coyle. The water surrounding the mast moved, but the mast itself remained stationary.
Locals utilized the steel mast as a landmark, and history buffs loved it.
On Saturday, a lot of individuals expressed their sadness about the mast’s disappearance on social media.
You only had to aim to go snap a picture of the mast. According to Coyle, it was a landmark that brought you joy.
“The shack, a small building next to the ship, was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012,” she claimed.
According to Coyle, a large portion of the information regarding the mast’s disappearance is still being disseminated on social media.
She said, “I saw it on Facebook this morning, but I haven’t been out there because this just happened the other day.”
Additionally, Coyle believes that a new marker will probably be installed to mark the Sea King’s position.
Coyle stated, “I don’t doubt there will be a commemorative plaque at some point, but I can’t speak for Barnegat Light.”
According to her, Barnegat Light cherishes its maritime past.
According to Coyle, images and information about the Sea King can also be found in the New Jersey Maritime Museum, located at 528 Dock Road, Beach Haven.
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