SS ''Arratoon Apcar'' was an iron-hulled steamship built in 1861 for the Apcar Line. She ran ashore on Fowey Rocks off the coast of Florida on 17 February 1878, was abandoned 3 days later, and broke apart. Today the wreck is a good location for scuba diving.

Construction and service

SS ''Arratoon Apcar'' was built in

Renfrew Renfrew (; sco, Renfrew; gd, Rinn Friù) is a town west of Glasgow in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It is the historic county town of Renfrewshire. Called the "Cradle of the Royal Stewarts" for its early link with Scotland's former ...

, Scotland by James Henderson and Son. The ship was powered by a 250 hp steam engine, with an iron hull. She was long, wide and measured . She was launched on 27 June 1861. She was named after the founder of Apcar and Company of

Bombay Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

, India, for whom she was built. In 1872 the Apcar family purchased a considerably larger ship that they also called ''Arratoon Apcar'', selling the older ship to H.F. Swan Company.

Wreck

SS ''Arratoon Apcar'' was en route from

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

, Cuba to

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

, England when she ran aground on 17 February 1878 on Fowey Rocks, due to a miscalculation by Captain Pottinger. The reef had already claimed other ships. Several workmen were camped on a platform on the new screw pilings of the

Fowey Rocks Light Fowey Rocks Light is located seven miles southeast of Cape Florida on Key Biscayne. The lighthouse was completed in 1878, replacing the Cape Florida Light. It was automated on May 7, 1975, and is still in operation. The structure is cast iron, wi ...

that they were building on the rocks. They were almost hit by the ship, which was stopped by the rocks only away. The crew of the ship spent three days trying to pump her out before abandoning her and heading for the shore in their lifeboats. The captain and his complete crew of 24 men were picked up by the ''Tappahannock''. Foul weather pushed the ship onto the reef, pounding her on the rocks. The ship broke up and was a total loss by 12 March 1878.

Mistaken identity

The wreck now tentatively identified as the ''Arratoon Apcar'' was known for many years as the ''Arakanapka'', and is so called in books and on various dive-related web sites.

Today

The wreck now lies in of water near the Fowey Rocks. The lower hull and irons beams of the ship are still visible, encrusted with coral, and there are some remains of other parts of the ship. There are many fish, and with shallow water the location provides an excellent site for snorkeling or diving. However, the shallow waters near the reef may create strong surges that could damage a boat. The ''Arratoon Apcar'' is one of five historic wrecks in the

Biscayne National Park Biscayne National Park is an American national park located south of Miami, Florida in Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade County. The park preserves Biscayne Bay and its offshore barrier reefs. Ninety-five percent of the park is water, and t ...

"Shipwreck Trail".

References

Citations Sources * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Arratoon Apcar Ships built on the River Clyde 1861 ships Shipwrecks of the Florida coast Wreck diving sites in the United States Biscayne National Park Maritime incidents in February 1878