Vigilante Wreck - Abrolhos
BACKGROUND:
Vigilante towing boat left Rio de Janeiro port with destiny to Caravelas in Bahia.
Next to São Tomé Cape, a rupture in the steam conductor pipe happened. Throughout 32 hours, the towing boat was wandering till the problem was solved. On November 20th, the towing boat arrived in Caravelas, BA, but another rupture in the pipe took place forcing the master to anchor the little steam boat.
Due to the strong windy weather and the tough sea, the tying parted. Another anchor was launched, but the minor iron couldn’t keep the towing boat stopped and it was dragged till the Lixa Stone, and it stuck over there.
The engines couldn’t manage the boat, part of the coal was thrown away. From Caravelas, União motorboat left with anchors, collision shirts, empty tambours, and water bombers. The effort was useless and at the end of some days, the towing boat was considered lost and abandoned by crew.
The engines and the caldron are the only big pieces left in the place.
DESCRIPTION:
Few things rest from this towing boat which lies on the reef of Lixa Stone. The wooden hull covered with copper, practically doesn’t exist anymore. Only some boards of copper can be seen on the sand. The caldron, whose low tide keeps it with water till its half, displays two furnaces and a heat changer.
Behind the caldron, there is a set of steam engines fallen to starboard side. The engines are the type of Double Expansion, and there are little cylinders compatible to a little ship.
Few pieces remain buried in the sand, giving us the impression of being accomplished rescue jobs.
BASIC DATA
Name of the ship: Vigilante
Date of sinking: December 15th 1943
LOCALIZATION
Place: Abrolhos
State: BA.
Country: Brasil
Position: Lixa Parcel in Abrolhos
Latitude: 17° 41’ 24” South
Longitude: 038° 59’ 12” West
Minimum deepness: 0 meters
Maximum deepness: 06 meters
CURRENT CONDITIONS: not intact / burried
The caldron comes out to the surface.
TECHNICAL DATA
Nationality: Brazilian
Length: –
Mouth: –
Dislocation: –
Type of boat: towing boat
Material of the hull: wood covered with copper
Power: propeller
Cargo: empty
REASON OF SINKING: crash
Steam engines fallen to the right side.
By: Maurício de Carvalho / www.naufragiosdobrasil.com.br
