'Ghost fleet' of sunken warships declared a national marine sanctuary

A fleet of wooden steamships from World War I fill the waters of Mallows Bay in Maryland.

A century ago, dozens of shipyards across the United States constructed a fleet of wooden steamships to aid the fight against Germany during World War I. Today, ospreys nest on the boats, and bats breed in the hull. More than 100 of these historic vessels survive, serving as a half-submerged home for fish, beavers, waterfowl, and vegetation along a stretch of the Potomac River next to Mallows Bay, Maryland.

On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designated the 18-square-mile area a national marine sanctuary—the first in nearly two decades. The Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary holds not only remains of the “ghost fleet” of WWI vessels, but also Civil War-era shipwrecks, and Native American archaeological sites dating back 12,000 years.

There are few things more fascinating, tragic and eerie than a shipwreck. Whether purposefully sunk for scuba diving exploits or the devastating result of freak weather conditions, we’ve taken a look at some of the world’s most spectacular shipwrecks, as well as how you can visit them.

 In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson created the U.S. Emergency Fleet Corporation, which began building hundreds of ships to combat the destructive German U-boats sinking merchant and passenger ships in the Atlantic. Plagued by mechanical and construction issues, none of the ships actually made it to Europe during the war. After, most of them were moved along the Potomac to be salvaged by a local company that later abandoned them in Mallows Bay. Despite their place on the sidelines, the ships “reflected the massive national wartime effort that drove the expansion and economic development of communities and related maritime service industries,” NOAA noted in the sanctuary announcement. 

The SS Maheno was built in 1905 and was one of the first turbine-driven steamers, taking a regular route between Sydney and Auckland. When the First World War broke out, the ship was converted into a hospital ship in Europe. Years later in 1935, SS Maheno was heading for a Japanese wrecking yard when a cyclone caused her to meet her untimely end.

 Public officials and conservationists in Maryland first nominated the site in 2014, hoping to encourage tourism, education initiatives, and spur new jobs. It also wanted to increase monitoring of the site and acquire federal funds. There was pushback at the time from locals who made their living from the Potomac and feared additional regulations would hurt their business, and the nomination stalled on the governor’s desk.

A shark called Deep Blue, one of the largest recorded, swims offshore in Hawaii, U.S.

Mallows Bay is already a popular tourist spot, where visitors can kayak through shipwrecks and observe an array of wildlife, including bald eagles and osprey.

The National Marine Sanctuary System, encompassing 13 sanctuaries and two marine national monuments, protects 430 shipwrecks and sunken aircraft. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve was the last site to get a NOAA designation in 2000. After, Congress paused future sanctuaries until NOAA could determine it had the resources to manage existing inventory. The Mallows Bay-Potomac River site won’t become official until a 45-day period, during which the House and Senate can hold hearings about the designation.

A school of fish swim in a coral reef off the coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

Mallows Bay is already a popular tourist spot, where visitors can kayak through shipwrecks and observe an array of wildlife, including bald eagles and osprey. 

The National Marine Sanctuary System, encompassing 13 sanctuaries and two marine national monuments, protects 430 shipwrecks and sunken aircraft. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve was the last site to get a NOAA designation in 2000. After, Congress paused future sanctuaries until NOAA could determine it had the resources to manage existing inventory. The Mallows Bay-Potomac River site won’t become official until a 45-day period, during which the House and Senate can hold hearings about the designation.