Mallows Bay Shipwreck Trail

The lock-like Burning Basin in the back of Mallows Bay was made by Bethlehem Steel in either late 1942 or early 1943. The area was altered to hold 15 ship hulls at once within the basin. The gate into the basin was just wide enough to float one hull at a time into the area. Once inside the basin, the plan was to pump the water out, the ships burned, and the metal retrieved. However, the first 11 vessels that floated into the basin sank into the soft bottom when the water was removed, making it extremely difficult to access and salvage the ships. Operations began to end by September 1944 and finished in January 1945. Only one other vessel is known to have been scrapped before operations stopped. Therefore, this method of salvaging metal did not prove worth the cost.

<span>The remains of a wooden barge are located within the Burning Basin. It was used by Bethlehem Steel during the creation of the basin and placed in service in 1942 until 1943. It was likely used as a work platform. During disposal operations, it was probably also used to haul all the sand, soil, and silt that was dredged up, along with any cargo and scrap. Iron fittings are still apparent, so take care when navigating around the remains.</span>

<span>The “Sea Scout” boat is a 104′ ARB (Aircraft Rescue Boat) Design 235A , which was used during World War II as a fast response boat to rescue downed pilots. In later years, it was used as a training vessel by Sea Scouts and sometime between 1964 and 1980, it was left in the Burning Basin. A photogrammetry model (courtesy of Taylor Picard, East Carolina University) helps to show and interpret the remains of this vessel.</span>