Hilma Hooker
Encyclopedia
The Hilma Hooker is a shipwreck
in Bonaire in the Caribbean Netherlands. It is a popular wreck diving
site.
in 1951. Before being named the Hilma Hooker she operated under various other names including Doric Express, the Anna, the William Express, the Mistral and the Midsland.
In the summer of 1984, the Hilma Hooker called the port of Kralendijk
after suffering rudder trouble during her voyage. Docked at the Town Pier, local authorities became increasingly suspicious of the ship and crew and boarded the ship for an inspection when her Captain
was unable to produce any of the ships requisite registration papers. A false bulkhead
was discovered, and held within was 25,000 pounds of marijuana. The "Hilma Hooker" and her crew were subsequently detained while the local authorities on Bonaire searched for the vessel's owners, who were never found.
The ship languished under detention as evidence for many months and through damage caused in removing the drugs and general neglect of her hull she began to take on considerable amounts of water. Fearful that she would sink at the main dock
on the island and disrupt maritime traffic, the ship was towed from the Town Pier on September 7, 1984 and anchored offshore of the southern part of the island. Five days later, the seeping ingress of water overwhelmed her pumps and she sank stern
first, ending up on her starboard side.
systems in an area known to divers as Angel City
. Her wreck has subsequently became a prime attraction for scuba divers
visiting Bonaire. She lies in approximately 100 feet of water, and at 240 feet in length provides ample scope for exploration. However, relatively little of the wreck involves penetration diving
.
She is regarded as one of the leading wreck diving sites in the Caribbean.
Shipwreck
A shipwreck is what remains of a ship that has wrecked, either sunk or beached. Whatever the cause, a sunken ship or a wrecked ship is a physical example of the event: this explains why the two concepts are often overlapping in English....
in Bonaire in the Caribbean Netherlands. It is a popular wreck diving
Wreck diving
Wreck diving is a type of recreational diving where shipwrecks are explored. Although most wreck dive sites are at shipwrecks, there is an increasing trend to scuttle retired ships to create artificial reef sites...
site.
History
The Hilma Hooker was originally built in the European part of the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1951. Before being named the Hilma Hooker she operated under various other names including Doric Express, the Anna, the William Express, the Mistral and the Midsland.
In the summer of 1984, the Hilma Hooker called the port of Kralendijk
Kralendijk
Kralendijk is the capital city and main port of the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean Netherlands. The language spoken in the town is Papiamentu, but Dutch and English are widely used. In Dutch, Kralendijk means "coral reef" or "coral dike". The Papiamentu name for the town is Playa or "beach"...
after suffering rudder trouble during her voyage. Docked at the Town Pier, local authorities became increasingly suspicious of the ship and crew and boarded the ship for an inspection when her Captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
was unable to produce any of the ships requisite registration papers. A false bulkhead
Bulkhead
Bulkhead may refer to:* Bulkhead, a compartment of a building for preventing spread of fires, see Compartmentalization * Bulkhead , a retaining wall used as a form of coastal management, akin to a seawall, or as a structural device such as a bulkhead partition* Bulkhead , a wall within the hull of...
was discovered, and held within was 25,000 pounds of marijuana. The "Hilma Hooker" and her crew were subsequently detained while the local authorities on Bonaire searched for the vessel's owners, who were never found.
The ship languished under detention as evidence for many months and through damage caused in removing the drugs and general neglect of her hull she began to take on considerable amounts of water. Fearful that she would sink at the main dock
Dock
-In transportation:*Dock , a structure for handling ships**Drydock, a basin that can be flooded and drained to allow a load to come to rest on a dry platform**Ferry slip, a docking facility that receives a ferryboat...
on the island and disrupt maritime traffic, the ship was towed from the Town Pier on September 7, 1984 and anchored offshore of the southern part of the island. Five days later, the seeping ingress of water overwhelmed her pumps and she sank stern
Stern
The stern is the rear or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite of the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Originally, the term only referred to the aft port section...
first, ending up on her starboard side.
Dive site
She came to rest on a sand flat between two coral reefCoral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
systems in an area known to divers as Angel City
Angel City
Angel City may refer to:*Angel City, Florida, location in the United States*Angel City , electronic music group*Angel City, alternative name of Australian band The Angels...
. Her wreck has subsequently became a prime attraction for scuba divers
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
visiting Bonaire. She lies in approximately 100 feet of water, and at 240 feet in length provides ample scope for exploration. However, relatively little of the wreck involves penetration diving
Penetration diving
Penetration diving or no clear surface diving is a type of diving where the scuba diver enters a space from which there is no direct, purely vertical ascent to the safety of breathable air of the atmosphere at the surface...
.
She is regarded as one of the leading wreck diving sites in the Caribbean.