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Photo courtesy of Indiana University for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
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Built in Sunderland, England in 1910, the 360-foot, steam-powered steel freighter was owned by the Skjelbred Company of the Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission when she became a casualty of World War II. Sailing blacked out at night off the Upper Florida Keys in April, 1942 on a routine voyage from Tampa to Norfolk with a cargo of phosphate ore, Benwood collided with another blacked-out ship, Robert C. Tuttle. With seawater flooding her crushed bow, Benwood’s captain turned the ship shoreward in an attempt to ground and save her. However, in less than an hour, he ordered his crew to abandon ship She was declared a total loss after it was determined her keel had been broken in the collision. Her remains lie in 25 feet of water near French Reef at 25° 03.144’N and 80° 19.930’W. Due to her shallow location, Benwood supports a variety of corals and sponges, and shelters many species of tropical fish. Marked by four mooring buoys as part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Trail, Benwood is considered the most popular dive site in the Keys.
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