Historical Background
Built in 1910 at Rotterdam Droogdok Mij. dockyards in the Netherlands, the Merak was a freighter initially owned by a Dutch company. For most of its early years, it transported general cargo. However, in 1918, during World War I, the United States Shipping Board seized the vessel to assist in the war effort. In August of the same year, Merak, loaded with 5,600 tons of coal, was en route to Chile from Newport News, Virginia. As it approached the treacherous Diamond Shoals, German U-boat U-140 spotted the freighter and launched an attack.
In a desperate bid to evade the U-boat, Merak zigzagged at full speed, avoiding nearly 30 shells fired by U-140. Unfortunately, the freighter ran aground on the constantly shifting sands of Diamond Shoals. The 43-member crew quickly abandoned ship, taking to lifeboats to escape.
The Final Moments
While the Merak crew fled, U-140 turned its attention to the Diamond Shoals Light Vessel LV-71, which had been broadcasting radio warnings to nearby ships. After damaging the light vessel’s communications, U-140 bombarded it until it sank. The submarine then returned to Merak, where German sailors boarded the grounded freighter, placed explosives in the engine room, and detonated the charges. Before departing, U-140’s crew interviewed the Merak survivors, asking about the ship and its cargo. They even offered the sailors a helpful distance estimate from the shore before sinking the freighter.
Though lost for many years, the possible rediscovery of Merak adds yet another haunting chapter to the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
The Wreck Site
Near the infamous Diamond Shoals Light Tower lies a shipwreck that is believed to be the World War I-era freighter Merak. The ship’s remains, found upside down, make it difficult to identify definitively. However, many clues suggest that this could indeed be the Merak. Located in the same area where the freighter was reported lost, the wreck matches the ship’s dimensions and features a single screw propeller. A particularly striking feature discovered by NOAA archaeologists is the number of gudgeons used in the rudder system, which matches the builder’s plan for the Merak. Only one other vessel, the Olympic, was considered a potential match, but it had more gudgeons.
Today, the wreck rests 135 feet underwater, approximately four miles from the wreck of the Diamond Shoals Light Vessel LV-71. The site’s warm Gulf Stream waters and strong currents make it a challenging dive. The wreck is broken into two large sections, arranged in an L-shape, with about 60 feet of space between them. The stern section is the larger part, with the propeller pointing east, while the bow section lies perpendicular, revealing torn-open ends.
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Join Us Next Saturday
We hope you found this episode of “Ocean Echoes: North Carolina’s Shipwreck Chronicles” both informative and moving. Join us next Saturday as we continue to uncover more stories of sunken ships and maritime mysteries. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated on our latest episodes.Thank you for joining us on this journey through history. Until next time, stay curious and keep exploring!
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