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Creque Marine Railway ⚓️

The Little Sloop, SORA Sails to the US Virgin Islands ~ 1942

yacht Sora

The Sloop, Sora This little yacht arrived at the Creque Marine Railway for service in 1942. She was a pretty sailboat believed to be from New York. Her bottom was painted green with a white waterline, blue topsides, and she had a mahogany cabin on top. During the summer month of June, she was spotted by […]

See the Damage to the Creque Marine Railway After Hurricanes Irma and Maria

Creque Marine Railway

Before Hurricane Damage The Creque Marine Railway is a special, historic property that first became a part of our family’s holdings in 1910. While visiting over Christmas, I had the opportunity to see what Hurricanes Irma and Maria had done.   Unfortunately, it became obvious that the building suffered significant damage. Most of the steam […]

Early Image of the Creque Marine Railway ~ 1912

Photographer captured early image of Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island.

The Railway This is an early photograph of the railway at Hassel Island. The Creque Marine Railway was kept very busy after the Hurricanes in 1916 and 1924. Click this link for a quick view of its history and some of the vessels repaired there.    SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave

How Derrick Barges Help the Maritime Industry ~ 1933

Hurricane damage Derrick barge K-15 hauled at the Creque Marine Railway, Hassel Island, US Virgin Islands ~ 1933 By Valerie Sims

The September 1932 hurricane wreaked havoc on the maritime industry in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Boat owners were writing to the owner of the Creque Marine Railway to reserve space at the slip.   It was shaping up to be a busy season for them.  One such letter Mr. Creque received was […]

Rebuilding a Sunken Sailboat ~ 1916

Rebuilding a Sunken Sailboat ~ 1916

The Schooner, Eagle Last year, I shared a fascinating story about the inter-island sloop, Eagle. Included were rare photographs of her crew and some of her passengers.  The Owner In late 1916, the owner of the Eagle was Captain Oswald Waldemar George of St. John. His route spanned the seas between the British Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic. The Eagle, like the Zuhrah, Fancy Me, […]

The Sinking of the Schooner, FANCY ME ~ 1926

The schooner, Fancy Me, from Tortola 1926

Launching The Fancy Me  The Fancy Me was a locally-built schooner that became infamous when she was lost in a hurricane with most of her passengers who were returning home to their families. It was one of the most tragic events that occurred in the maritime history of the British Virgin Islands. The schooner was built on Hassel […]

Repairing the EL CARIBE by Hand ~ 1937

El caribe, ship

In 1937, this huge oil tanker hit a coral reef near Saona Island off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic! A portion of the hull was badly damaged and needed immediate repairs. Repairing the El Caribe Being one of the few railways capable of lifting the 226-ton tanker, she made her way to the Creque Marine […]

Finding a Few Photographs and Invoices Keeps One Schooner’s History Alive ~ 1920

The schooner, ZUHRAH at the Creque Marine Railway on Hassel Island ~ 1920 By Valerie Sims

During the 1920s, the schooner, Zurah was captained by the beloved Samuel Sewer. His vessel was an important link in the inter-island trade.  When repairs were needed, she was brought to the Creque Marine Railway. There, her dimensions were recorded as 50 feet in length by 15 feet wide.   Selling the Zuhrah In December 1922, the Zuhrah was sold to Mr. Antonio Cesin and Carlos […]

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