Shipwreck in the Caribbean Sea: Analysis in the Loss of the U.S.S. Kearsarge-Roncador Cay, Colombia (1894)

Abstract

The United State Ship (U.S.S.) Kearsarge, a Sloop of War, is considering the most famous and glorious ship of the American Civil War after sinking the Confederate State Ship (C.S.S.) Alabama, in 1864 in France. It also represented technological innovations in the second half of the 19th century, combining steam power and sails. After shipwreck on Roncador Cay, Colombia, in 1894, it was abandoned with the armament onboard (seven guns). This paper aims to analyze the causes of the U.S.S. Kearsarge marine accident from the sociocultural factors and environmental conditions, examining the court-martial records, logbook, testimonies, nautical material, and geography in this part of the Caribbean Sea. The article will explore an episode in the United States naval history from a shipwreck that left a mark in the United States (U.S.) Navy and American society from geopolitical and technological context. A court-martial declared guilty of negligence the two officers with the highest rank on board the same year of the accident. The court determined human error from the Commander and lack of support from the navigation officer during the loss of the U.S.S. Kearsarge.

Preserving Sunken Military Vessels as Underwater Cultural Heritage in Colombia: Legal Challenges and Prospects for the USS Kearsarge Wreck Site

“…In 1894, while serving as the flagship of the commander of the US-North Atlantic Station, the USS Kearsarge was involved in a military operation in Haiti and later sailed to Bluefields, Nicaragua, to safeguard American interests. However, on 2 February 1894, the Kearsarge ran aground on Roncador Cay at around 7 p.m. [192], and despite rescue efforts by the US government, the vessel was eventually neglected and partly looted [16]. Although the USS Kearsarge remained forgotten for many years, the US government eventually prioritized the protection of naval heritage, including the Kearsarge wreck site, towards the end of the twentieth century [193].…”