Vamar Shipwreck Site

Updated on Jan 17, 2024

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NRHP Reference # 06000243 Designated FUAP 2004 Added to NRHP 10 April 2006		FUAP # 9 Year built 1919 Nearest city Mexico Beach

Management Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Vamar (originally christened the Kilmarnock) is an English shipwreck (which sank on March 21, 1942) near Mexico Beach, Florida, United States. It is located 3.7 miles offshore from Mexico Beach. It became the ninth Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve when it was dedicated in 2004. On April 10, 2006, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Alternate names

The Vamar underwent several name changes in its history:

1919 - christened the Kilmarnock

1920s - renamed the Chelsea after being sold to a private firm

1928 - Rear-Admiral Richard Byrd acquires the ship for his journey to Antarctica. He renames the ship the Eleanor Bolling, in honor of his mother, Eleanor Bolling Byrd

During the voyage, due to rough seas, the crew nicknamed the ship the "Evermore Rolling". The ship was not designed to carry heavy loads.

After days of rain, and a load of rain-soaked lumber, the ship's inherent instability and lowered center of gravity, could have led to her demise about 4 miles out to sea making her way to Guantanamo Bay.

1933 - the Vamar Shipping Company buys the ship and renames it the Vamar

1942 - March 21, after leaving Port St. Joe, Florida, Vamar sunk under suspicious circumstances. When asked the cause by his son, the Captain replied with his protest: he was ordered by the owners to load all the lumber to be shipped. This meant to much cargo above deck which created a high center of gravity. The ship was already known to roll heavily and the cargo made it worse to the point of taking on water once the ship cleared the harbor.

2004 - Vamar became Florida's Ninth Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

References

Vamar Shipwreck Site Wikipedia

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