Santa Clara

History and context

The Santa Clara was a side trawler of about 25 metres, built in 1947 in Bilbao as the Ulia, renamed Isla de Santa Clara in 1949 and Santa in 1982. She ended up sailing under the Panamanian flag, linked to tobacco smuggling. On 20 April 1983 she suffered engine failure some 45 miles northeast of Menorca in a heavy storm. While her rescue was being organised, the crew allegedly threw the smuggled tobacco overboard. The boat was towed into Maó harbour, where her crew abandoned her and vanished; no one ever claimed the vessel. With the abandoned hull in the way in the harbour, it was decided to scuttle her off Rafalet point: local sources date the sinking to 1986, while Lloyd's Register records her as scuttled by the Navy in July 1988 after her seizure for smuggling. The wreck, perfectly upright on sand at about 46 metres (the wheelhouse at around 41 m), was located and documented by Oceanic Research on 10 October 1997.

Vessel type

Side trawler of about 25 m, built in 1947 in Bilbao (ex Ulia, ex Isla de Santa Clara)

Flag

Panama

Breakdown and tow to Maó

20 April 1983, after a storm 45 miles NE of Menorca

Cause of sinking

Deliberately scuttled after being abandoned by its crew, linked to tobacco smuggling

Sinking date

1986 according to local sources; July 1988 according to Lloyd's Register

Depth and rediscovery

45-47 m, upright on sand; documented on 10/10/1997 by Oceanic Research