Hilma Hooker

The bow ofHilma Hooker Hilma Hooker class=notpageimage| Caribbean Netherlands Hilma Hooker Hilma Hooker (Caribbean)
History
Name	Midsland(1951–1964) Mistral(1964–1967) William Express(1967–1975) Anna C.(1975–1976) Doric Express(1976–1979) Hilma Hooker(1979–1984)
Owner	Scheepvaart En Steenkolen Mij. N. V.,Netherlands (1951–1964) Caribbean Association Traders, Panama (1964–1967) Bahamas Line, Panama (1967–1975) Benjamin Catrone, Panama (1975–1976) Seacoast Shipping Corp., Panama (1976–1979) San Andrés Shipping Line, Colombia (1979–1984)
Builder	Van der Giessen de Noord,Krimpen aan den IJssel,Netherlands
Yard number	758
Launched	21 May 1951
Identification	IMO number:5234515
Fate	Sank atBonaire,12 September 1984
General characteristics
Type	Cargo ship
Tonnage	691GRT 1,025DWT
Length	71.78 m (235 ft 6 in)
Beam	11.01 m (36 ft 1 in)
Depth	3.81 m (12 ft 6 in)
Propulsion	1 ×Werkspoor1,260 bhp (940 kW) 6-cylinder diesel engine, 1 shaft
Speed	12knots(22 km/h; 14 mph)

TheHilma Hookeris ashipwreckinBonairein theCaribbean Netherlands.It is a popularwreck divingsite.

Ship history

The vessel was built at theVan der Giessen de Noordshipyard inKrimpen aan den IJssel,Netherlands, for the shipping companyScheepvaart En Steenkolen Mij. N. V.She was launched on 21 May 1951 and namedMidsland.In 1964 the ship was sold to Caribbean Association Traders of Panama, and renamedMistral.She was sold again in 1967 to the Bahamas Line and renamedWilliam Express.On 18 July 1975 the ship sank offSamaná,Dominican Republic. She was refloated and sold to Benjamin Catrone of Panama and renamedAnna C.The ship was soon sold again being bought in 1976 by the Seacoast Shipping Corp. of Panama and renamedDoric Express.Finally, in 1979 she was sold to the San Andrés Shipping Line ofSan Andrés,Colombia, and renamedHilma Hooker.

Sinking

In the summer of 1984, theHilma Hookerhad engine problems at sea and was towed to the port ofKralendijk,Bonaire. It was already under surveillance by drug enforcement agencies. Docked at the Town Pier, local authorities boarded the ship for an inspection when hercaptainwas unable to produce any of the requisite registration papers. A falsebulkheadwas discovered, and held within was 25,000 lb (11,000 kg) ofmarijuana.TheHilma Hookerand her crew were subsequently detained while the local authorities on Bonaire searched for the vessel's owners, who were never found.

The ship languished under detention as evidence for many months and through general neglect of her hull she began to take on considerable amounts of water. It was feared that she would sink at the maindockon the island and disrupt maritime traffic. After many months of being tied to the pier and pumped of water, on September 7, 1984 theHookerwas towed to an anchorage. As the days passed, a slight list became noticeable. The list was even more obvious one morning. The owner was still not coming forward to claim the ship and maintain it so the many leaks added up until on the morning of September 12, 1984 theHilma Hookerbegan taking in water through her lower portholes. At 9:08 am she rolled over on her starboard side and, in the next two minutes, disappeared.

Dive site

Diver onHilma Hooker

TheHilma Hookercame to rest on a sand flat between twocoral reefsystems in an area known to divers as Angel City. The wreck has subsequently become a prime attraction forscuba divers.It lies in approximately 100 feet (30 m) of water and at 240 feet (73 m) in length provides ample scope for exploration. However, relatively little of the wreck involvespenetration diving.

TheHilma Hookeris regarded as one of the leading wreck diving sites in the Caribbean, according toScuba Diving Travel Magazine.

References

Sources

• "The Wreck of the Hilma Hooker".Bruce Bowker's Carib Inn, Bonaire.2012.Retrieved12 September2012.
• "The Bonaire Shipwreck Directory".aquaexplorers.com.2012.Retrieved12 September2012.