Bermuda Triangle & Marine Sulphur Queen

E-mail: -- NEW INFO.! There is supposed to be a second exploratory dive to identify the sunken ship off of the Florida coast described below. The tentative dive date is later in the summer of 2004.

These pages are for the 39 crew men, including my father, who were lost while traveling through the "Bermuda Triangle" on the SS MARINE SULPHUR QUEEN (MSQ), the first liquid sulfur tanker in the world. When the Marine Sulphur Queen left Beaumont, Texas, her destination was Norfolk, Virginia. The ship's last message was sent about 200 miles off Key West, Florida. The apexes of the "Bermuda Triangle" are supposedly Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Investigative reports indicate that debris was found in the vicinity of Dry Tortugas (covered by the red ship on the National Geographic map above). Although the loss of other ships and aircraft may remain more mysterious, it seems that the Marine Sulphur Queen's loss resulted from it not being seaworthy combined with weather, etc. I need to return to this discussion again because there has been no official conclusion. Information about the MSQ found during my personal investigation follows.

The Association of Underwater Explorers (AUE), a coalition of divers dedicated to the research, exploration, documentation, and preservation of submerged cultural resources, conducted an exploratory dive to inspect a large shipwreck that may be the Marine Sulphur Queen. According to the AUE, there are four possible shipwrecks at that site as follows: The Marine Sulphur Queen, a tanker, disappeared on 4 February 1963, 504' x 68.2' x 39.4'; the Joseph M. Cudahay, a tanker torpedoed by U-507 on 5 May 1942, 430' x 59.2' x 33.4'; the Munger T. Ball, a tanker torpedoed by U-507 on 4 May 1942, 392' x 51.2' x 30'; and the Norlindo, a freighter torpedoed by U-507 on 4 May 1942, 255.4' x 43.8' x 26.9'. Here are some of my photos from the 27 Jan. 2001 exploratory dive that was also filmed by Team Entertainment Group. I witnessed the dive from one of two dive boats. The results of this exploratory dive were inconclusive primarily because the underwater camera froze after 400' down. In addition, because the divers must use mixed gases, there is some risk to the divers who are all doing this voluntarily, and they cannot stay down for lengthy periods of time. You can read Mike Rodriguez' dive report. Another dive during better sea conditions is being considered. Millions of thanks again to the AUE & to Bruce Burgess for the invitation. Bermuda Triangle Solved? aired on The Learning Channel (TLC).

Here is a definition of the Bermuda Triangle, quoted from the Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center:

[begin quote] The U. S. Board of Geographic Names does not recognize the Bermuda Triangle as an official name and does not maintain an official file on the area. The "Bermuda or Devil's Triangle" is an imaginary area located off the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States, which is noted for a high incidence of unexplained losses of ships, small boats, and aircraft. The apexes of the triangle are generally accepted to be Bermuda, Miami, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the past, extensive, but futile Coast Guard searches prompted by search and rescue cases such as the disappearances of an entire squadron of TBM Avengers shortly after take off from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., or the traceless sinking of Marine Sulphur Queen in the Florida Straits have lent credence to the popular belief in the mystery and the supernaturnal qualities of the "Bermuda Triangle." [end quote]

The Marine Sulphur Queen was a T2 tanker, originally named "Esso New Haven." Its official number was 245295, and its radio call letters were KWPO. Davis Whittaker, creator of the excellent T2 Tanker Page, furnished the following quote from "Victory Ships and Tankers", by L. A. Sawyer and W. H. Mitchell:

"ESSO NEW HAVEN: Completed by Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Chester, PA in March, 1944, yard hull number 407. Converted in 1960 to carry bulk sulphur by Bethlehem Steel Co., Sparrows Point, MD (7,240GRT) and renamed MARINE SULPHUR QUEEN. On 2 February, 1963 left Beaumont, TX for Norfolk, VA with a cargo of molten sulphur. On 3 February, radio communication received indicating position approximately 26.40N, 88W (south of Pensacola). Posted missing on 6 February; no further trace.

This is one of the modern mysteries of the sea. The entire crew of thirty-nine was lost and claims totalling some $20 million were filed by their relatives. The loss of the vessel became the subject of a legal judgement and, after severe criticism of many concerned, a Federal Court decision, made some seven years after the loss, awarded a multi-million dollar settlement for the lives and cargo lost.

The MARINE SULPHUR QUEEN was put into service in 1961 and made a total of sixty three voyages before her disappearance. After several days of searching, only a few lifejackets, life rings and minor debris were found in a position south-east of Key West."


Here, a Coast Guard seaman holds a life jacket from the Marine Sulphur Queen. A ring with a man's shirt tied to it is also in this photo. These items were found near Miami.

Bermuda Triangle Stargate? A German historian/scuba diver has recorded the exact location and value of deviations in magnetic fields off the Bahamas coast. Scientists to whom he has shown the figures do not dismiss the possibility that they are caused by micro-wormholes. His researches have also led him to wonder whether the American AUTEC naval base on Andros Island is not-perhaps on account of these same wormholes - an "Underwater Area 51 of the Caribbean." And he has reached some new conclusions concerning Atlantis and the Bahamas.

BOOKS: Books in my personal library that discuss the Marine Sulphur Queen

Also see Gian J. Quasar's page devoted to the Marine Sulphur Queen. This is the best resource if you have any questions about the Bermuda Triangle.

OTHER LOST SHIPS: I have not yet focused on other lost ships and crews, but will start to add some here. One interesting matter involved the M/V Imbros, which was lost at sea in 1974. The crew broadcast an SOS from a position in the Bermuda Triangle, but no trace of the ship, cargo or crew was ever found. A court found the owner of the ship liable for negligent maintenance.

More Bermuda Triangle Resources

I plan to add more news articles and relevant civil litigation involving this ship's disappearance. And I am always seeking any information about the Marine Sulphur Queen.

VIDEOS about the Bermuda Triangle:

Bermuda Triangle: Secrets Revealed
Nova - The Bermuda Triangle
UFO Diaries: The Bermuda Triangle/Area 51

I added this site to the History Ring because the loss of the Marine Sulphur Queen and other ships and aircraft in the Bermuda Triangle has been examined over the decades as significant events. The History Ring also has some wonderful, interesting web sites, and you can click "Random " to perhaps learn something new.

This "The History Ring" site is owned by
Debbie.

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Links to the Bermuda Triangle Topic and the Marine Sulphur Queen

There are numerous sites discussing the area known as the Bermuda Triangle. I tried to list sites which specifically mention the Marine Sulphur Queen.

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