Benzonia

Ship Stats

Aerial drone photographic mosaic of Mallows Bay, Maryland. Location of Benzonia is circled in red. (Source: Duke University/NOAA). — Aerial drone photographic mosaic of Mallows Bay, Maryland. Location of *Benzonia* is circled in red. (Source: Duke University/NOAA).

State ID: 18CH515

Vessel Type: Merchant vessel (steamship)

Location: 38°28'13.94"N, 77°16'11.06"W (38.47054, -77.26974) (Duke University, 2016)

Length: 281 feet 10 inches

Breadth: 45 feet 2 inches

Deadweight Tonnage: 3,500

Builder: G.M. Standifer Construction Corporation, Vancouver, Washington

Owner: Titled to the State of Maryland under the Abandoned Shipwreck Act

Flora & Fauna: Significant flora growth along with an active osprey nest in the port stern area (facing out toward the river)

Significance: United States Shipping Board vessel built for World War I effort

Wreck Site

The vessel sits in an east by west orientation with its bow facing the Maryland shoreline. Surveys recorded the presence of a sharp stern, ferrous fastenings and cross strapping, and extant stempost and sternpost. Concrete and three visible bulkhead foundations are in the forepeak. During Hurricane Isabel in 2003 a number of vessels shifted position, including Benzonia. Benzonia was essentially lifted from its resting place and laid back down again, atop another steamship hull, 18CH531 (Caribou), with the stern rising high out of the water. Benzonia caught fire twice between 2012 - 2022. The first time was in 2013, and the fire was extinguished by a Prince William Fire Department (Virginia) vessel. In 2016, another fire took hold, and it smoldered for more than a week, suffering substantial damage and destroying much of the prominent stern.

The remains of Benzonia lifted on top of 18CH531 (Caribou). (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA). — The remains of *Benzonia* lifted on top of 18CH531 (*Caribou*). (Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA).

Historical Background

Benzonia was built by the G.M. Standifer Construction Corporation of Vancouver, Washington. The G.M. Standifer Construction Corporation had three shipyards, two of which were located in Vancouver, Washington, along the Columbia River. One of the shipyards built steel-hulled ships, while the other focused on building wooden-hulled vessels. Benzonia was built at the wooden shipbuilding shipyard, styled as a Ferris-type cargo steamship for the United States Shipping Board as part of the large war effort of World War I. Named after a town in Michigan, Benzonia launched on July 13, 1918, to great fanfare. Sold to Western Marine Salvage in 1922, Benzonia ended up in Mallows Bay, Maryland in 1929.

Photograph of the Benzonia on water July 13, 1918, Vancouver, Washington. (Source: Washington State Archives). — Photograph of the *Benzonia* on water July 13, 1918, Vancouver, Washington. (Source: Washington State Archives).

remains of Benzonia lifted on top of another shipwreck — The remains of *Benzonia* lifted on top of 18CH531 (*Caribou*). (Photo: Tyler Smith/NOAA).

Photograph of the G.M. Standifer wooden shipyard. Vancouver, Washington. — Photograph of the G.M. Standifer wooden shipyard. December 14, 1917.Vancouver, Washington. (Source: Washington State Archives).

Close up of Benzonia, as part of a larger image mosaic that utilized drones — Close up of *Benzonia*, as part of a larger image mosaic that utilized drones. (Source: Duke University/NOAA).

Photograph of Benzonia being launched into water. July 13, 1918 — Photograph of *Benzonia* being launched into water. July 13, 1918. (Source: Washington State Archives).