direct to content

MaSS

stepping stones of maritime history

History

All photos by T. Bervoets. Text contributed by Jay Haviser, Director of Sint Maarten Archaeological Center (SIMARC):

This is an 18th century Dutch War Frigate shipwreck site, situated atop a sandbar directly out from Great Bay harbor. The original Dutch ship was named “Jason” in 1770, but was taken by the British and renamed “Proselyte” in 1796. The Proselyte sank on the reef outside Great Bay on September 2, 1801.

Proselyte anchor and site

T. Bervoets

Description

The site is in about 50 feet water depth on a coral reef, with numerous cannon, ballast, barrel hoops and anchors present. The site is currently used as a tourists dive location and important harbor buoy marker location.

Proselyte anchor

T. Bervoets

Status

Archaeological research was done on this site by K. Bequette in 1994-1995, with a publication in 1996, and by Wil Nagelkerken in the 2000s. This site was officially declared a protected area, under the name of the sea-mount on which it rests, 'Man-O-War Shoal' as a protected nature/culture area of the Sint Maarten National Marine Park.

Proselyte iron cannons

T. Bervoets

Down on 18 February

New in MaSS

Wrecks of Flevoland

Burgzand Noord

13 Provinces