Hunting New England Shipwrecks

Click on thumbnail image for a larger view

Tug USS Nina (at left) salvaging the USS Tallapoosa in Vineyard Sound, in 1884	Newspaper report on the Galena and Nina grounding (Author's collection)

Shipwreck Data
Vessel Name	USS Nina
Other Names
Vessel Type	Tug
Owner	U.S. Navy
Length / Beam / Draft (feet)	137' / 26' /
Tonnage	420 DT
Hull Construction	Iron
Propulsion	Steam/ Screw
Cargo
Built	1865 at Chester, PA
Date of Loss	March 13, 1891
Reason for Loss	Grounded on reef in fog
Fatalities	None
Location	Grounded on Devil's Bridge, off Martha's Vineyard, MA; refloated several days later
Coordinates (Lat/Lon)
Coordinates (Loran C)
Water Depth (feet)
Typical Visibility (feet)
Wreck Condition
Diving Considerations
Other Information	While towing the sloop USS Galena, the Navy tug USS Nina and the Galena both grounded in fog on Devil's Bridge reef, off Martha's Vineyard, MA, on March 13, 1891. Both vessels were refloated several days later. The Nina was repaired and put back in service, but the Galena was damaged beyond repair and was later sold for salvage. The Navy tug USS Triana, which was called to assist with the salvage effort, stranded at nearby Cuttyhunk Island and became a total wreck. To visit our data page on the USS Galena, click here. To visit our data page on the USS Triana, click here.