1954 — Oct 7, SS Mormackite Founders in rough seas, off the Virginia Capes, VA — 37

–37 USCG, MBI. Commandant’s Action…foundering of SS MORMACKITE…1954. 1955, p. 1.

Narrative Information

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant’s Action on Marine Board of Investigation:
….
“2. The SS Mormackite, a cargo vessel of 6195 G.t., on 24-25 September 1954 at Victoria, Brazil, took on board a cargo consisting of 9,003 tons of iron ore and 30 tons of bagged cocoa beans. The ore cargo was not trimmed. On 25 September the Mormackite departed for Baltimore and its voyage north until the morning of the 7th of October was uneventful, as the weather was good and the vessel rode satisfactorily.

“At about 0500 7 October, seas began coming over the bow and the lookout was shifted to the flying bridge and speed was reduced. At 0530 the vessel was rolling and some shifting of cargo was heard. At 0900 with wind northeasterly, and some shifting of cargo was heard. At 0900 with wind northeasterly, force 30 knots, and swell running, a sea struck the starboard bow a hammer-like blow, causing the cargo to shift and the vessel by 0915 was listing 25⁰ to port. The engines were stopped. The list to port progressively increased, the stack began taking water, and the crew abandoned the vessel by walking and jumping into the sea, and by 0945 the vessel rolled over on the port side and sank stern first.

“No orders were given either to prepare to abandon or to abandon ship. None of the officers who might have been authorized to order such abandonment, survived. The Mormackite was fitted with two 70-person motor lifeboats, one on each side of the vessel, under gravity davits, and the crew was trained in their launching and use. Since no orders were given to prepare to abandon or to abandon the vessel and in view of the heavy list that ultimately developed, the lifeboats went down with the ship, while the crew entered the water directly, wearing life preservers. No distress signals, either visual or wireless, were sent. The crew remained in the water from 0945 7 October until 0728 9 October, when the first survivors were picked up. Of the 48 persons comprising the crew of the Mormackite, 37 perished, mostly by drowning and exposure, and 11 survived. The survivors were picked up from the water in position Latitude 36⁰ 17′ North, and Longitude 73⁰ 14′ West.” (p.1.)
Newspaper

Oct 9, AP: “Norfolk, Va., Oct. 9 (AP) – Three naval ship sped through the Atlantic toward Norfolk tonight with 11 surviving crewmen and the bodies of 11 who did not survive the sinking of the ore freighter Mormackite. Twenty-six crew members still were missing in the rough seas.

“The Mormackite carried a crew of 48 when she capsized about 150 miles east-southeast of Cape Henry. Coast Guardsmen estimated the vessel sank early Thursday….” (Associated Press. “Ship Sinks; 11 Die, 26 Missing. Freighter Capsizes In Storm.” The New Mexican, Santa Fe. 10-10-1954, p. 1.)
Source

Associated Press. “Ship Sinks; 11 Die, 26 Missing. Freighter Capsizes In Storm.” The New Mexican, Santa Fe. 10-10-1954, p. 1. Accessed 4-25-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-fe-new-mexican-oct-10-1954-p-1/

United States Coast Guard. Commandant’s Action on Marine Board of Investigation; foundering of SS MORMACKITE off the Virginia Capes on 7 October 1954 with loss of life. Wash., DC: Commandant, USCG, March 1, 1955. Accessed 4-25-2023 at: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/docs/boards/mormackite.pdf