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The Copenhagen Wreck or Cumberland Barge is a shallow and old wreck completely entangled with the natural reef.
| Name Dive Site: | Copenhagen Wreck or Cumberland Barge |
| Depth: | 13-39ft (4-12m) |
| Inserted/Added by: | lars, © Author: Lars Hemel |
| Rated: | Rated not yet |
| Specifications: |    |
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The Copenhagen Wreck or Cumberland Barge is a shallow dive site less than half a mile offshore Pompano Beach starting near a blue water tower. It was an English steamer built in Sunderland in 1898 by Priestman & Co. For two years she was successfully used as a transport ship, owned by Glasgow Ship-owners Co, until fate struck her. On May 27, 1900 she was transporting coal from Philadelphia to Havana when she ran aground a shallow ledge named Pompano Drop-off just offshore Lauderdale. The ship got stuck and all attempts to get free again failed. Its 26 crewmembers got saved immediately but it took two days before help from shore arrived to salvage some of the remaining coal. The coal was not worth much anymore and losing the vessel was an extremely expensive accident. Investigations found out that captain William Jones did not use enough caution and forgot to use his sounding lead. This is a device being used as radar to measure depths in the ocean.
The 325 foot long wreck has been visible above the surface until the late forties when she was used as a target for naval bombing practices. She was levelled down to a height of less than thirty feet, which still sometimes reaches the surface at low tide. Especially snorkellers have to be careful here not to get scratched when surface current throw you on top of the wreck.
Nowadays the structure of the Copenhagen has completely become part of the reef. Its hull has collapsed; its bow is pointing south parallel with the reef and some sights which are still recognizable are its anchor and a plague marking the wreck. This historical shipwreck is part of the Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve since June 1994 and it is therefore strictly prohibited to take anything from the wreck. Just enjoy its marine life and history.
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