Lost California Treasure
SHIPWRECK Protected / Restricted

SS Jacob Luckenbach Wreck

A 469-foot steel cargo steamship. In July 1953, she collided with the SS Hawaiian Pilot in dense fog and sank in 180 feet of water. In 2002, the U.S. Coast Guard completed a massive $20 million operation to extract over 100,000 gallons of heavy bunker fuel from her hull.

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AI Summary & Quick Facts

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  • Target Name: SS Jacob Luckenbach Wreck
  • Registry Category: shipwreck
  • Geographic Location: Gulf of the Farallones, 17 miles west-southwest of the Golden Gate, San Francisco (Coordinates: 37.67280, -122.79340)
  • Land Status: Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (Strictly Prohibited; protected underwater cultural resource) (Classified as Protected / Restricted)
  • Primary Historic Source: NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (RULET Assessment #50130)
  • Search & Usefulness Rating: Score 65/100 (Field Readiness: Advanced Fieldwork)
  • Summary Overview: A 469-foot steel cargo steamship. In July 1953, she collided with the SS Hawaiian Pilot in dense fog and sank in 180 feet of water. In 2002, the U.S. Coast Guard completed a massive $20 million.

Historical Overview

A 469-foot steel cargo steamship. In July 1953, she collided with the SS Hawaiian Pilot in dense fog and sank in 180 feet of water. In 2002, the U.S. Coast Guard completed a massive $20 million operation to extract over 100,000 gallons of heavy bunker fuel from her hull, preserving it as a historic deep-water artificial reef.

Field Search & Recovery Tips

This is a deep-water wreck resting at 180 feet. Due to extreme depths, strong currents, heavy commercial vessel traffic, and frequent zero-visibility conditions, this site is restricted to highly advanced technical divers. No salvage or disturbance of the wreck is permitted under marine sanctuary regulations.

Field Action Checklist

1
Treat this as specialized maritime or technical fieldwork and verify vessel traffic, weather, and dive limits before travel.
2
Use non-invasive documentation only unless a permit or lease explicitly authorizes more.
3
Prepare emergency communication, tide/current checks, and a shore contact plan.
4
Check tides, swell, marine protected areas, and vessel traffic before any shoreline or water visit.

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Research Dossier
65
Usefulness Rating Medium Potential
Land Status Designation Protected / Restricted

Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (Strictly Prohibited; protected underwater cultural resource)

Field Readiness Mode Advanced Fieldwork
Research Coordinates
37.67280, -122.79340
Google Maps ↗ OpenStreetMap ↗ CalTopo ↗

Legal & Permit Review

REQUIRED California State Lands Shipwreck Info Check California submerged-land and shipwreck restrictions before diving, probing, or salvage activity. ↗ REQUIRED NPS Archeology Guidelines Treat NPS archeological landscapes as non-collection research and verify unit-specific rules. ↗ RECOMMENDED California State Lands Confirm whether tidelands, submerged lands, or navigable waterways are involved. ↗ RECOMMENDED NOAA Tide Predictions Check tide windows before shoreline, surf-zone, or intertidal observation. ↗ CONTEXT NOAA ENC Direct Compare charted wreck or obstruction context against current NOAA navigation data. ↗

Recommended Outfitting

Trimix dive rig Strobe lights Line reel Emergency beacon
Reference Work Citation

NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (RULET Assessment #50130)

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