Manatee History Matters: Dive into the history of Regina wreckage off Bradenton Beach
Just off the shore of Bradenton Beach, the remains of a steel molasses barge lie hidden under the waves and half-buried in the sand, just as they have for the last 74 years. While walking on the beach, you may have passed within less than 100 yards of this historic site, but never noticed the wreckage of Regina.
Regina was built in 1904 for the Havana-based Cuban Molasses Transportation Co. by an Irish shipyard known as Workman, Clark & Co. When completed, the steel steamer totaled 247 feet in length, with a 36-foot beam (the width of the ship as measured at its widest point) and 14 foot draft (the vertical distance measured between the waterline and the bottom of the ship's hull).
Regina joined the growing molasses trade, as its use by rum distilleries and animal feed manufacturers increased. Large and small tankers alike carried the thick, syrupy cargo from locations in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to ports in the eastern United States, including some along the Gulf Coast.
Regina left Havana, Cuba on March 5, 1940, with a cargo of more than 350,000 gallons of molasses on board. The vessel, now converted to a tanker barge, was being towed by the tugboat Minima on a course for New Orleans, the principal port of the world's molasses trade. From here the molasses could be transferred to river barges and distributed to feed producers throughout the Midwest.
But neither ship would reach this destination.
Seeking shelter from storm
A cold front swept across the Gulf of Mexico, bringing with it strong winds, 8- to 12-foot waves, and freezing temperatures. Those aboard Minima planned to seek shelter from the storm in Tampa Bay, but before they could reach safety, the towing cable attaching the tug to Regina was torn apart in the storm.
Regina and the eight crew members on board began to drift helplessly toward Anna Maria, before running aground on a sandbar.
The vessel was seen by a local resident, who reported the situation to the St. Petersburg Coast Guard Air Station. Help would soon arrive, but would it be soon enough?
As nighttime approached, Regina's hull began to crack and break apart. The crew stayed on board. Although they were just 200 yards from shore, they feared abandoning the ship would mean getting dragged under the turbulent waters. Instead, they sought shelter in the cramped crew's quarters at the front of the vessel, despite flooding that reached almost up to their shoulders.
Along the shore, residents built fires to reassure the stranded crew they had been spotted. Unfortunately, their wait was not yet over. USCGC Nemesis and patrol boat CG145, both dispatched from St. Petersburg, were unable to reach the stranded vessel at night in such shallow waters.
Several attempts were then made to shoot a line from the beach to the barge, but each effort fell just short of the stranded vessel. A Coast Guard plane dropped life preserves down to Regina's crew. All but one were returned to shore by the wind and waves.
One didn't make it
A man, later identified as the ship's cook, chose to risk the perilous swim to shore. Onlookers watched in horror as he jumped overboard into the stormy sea, followed just moments later by his German shepherd, only to disappear beneath the waves.
Fortunately, the remaining crew members were eventually rescued, although the barge and all of its cargo were lost. Over the years, the wreck has become a popular destination for scuba divers and snorkelers because of its close proximity to shore.
In fact, Regina is now one of 11 Underwater Archaeological Preserves recognized in the state of Florida. Each site contains interesting archaeological features, and plays host to an abundance of marine life. For more information on these sites and how to find them, visit museumsinthesea.com, and please remember to always use safe diving practices.
Learn more about what else could be hidden in Florida's waters at the Florida Maritime Museum's Maritime Mythologies: Creatures of the Deep exhibit, open now through Nov. 22.
For more information, visit floridamaritimemuseum.org or call 941-708-6120.
Halee Turner, assistant at the Florida Maritime Museum, loves helping others share their stories. Contact her at Halee.Turner@manateeclerk.com or 941-708-6120.
This story was originally published October 7, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee History Matters: Dive into the history of Regina wreckage off Bradenton Beach."