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Mallows Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Moosabee

Moosabee is part of a group of three shipwrecks within Mallows Bay called “The Three Sisters.” “The Three Sisters” include the sites of Moosabee, Dertona, and an unidentified wreck. The Moosabee came to Mallows in 1929, and it has moved several times from its original location between 1952 and 1986. Today, the bow of Moosabee is in an excellent state of preservation and lies only 3 feet from the bluff shoreline. 

Moosabee is a Ferris-type wooden cargo ship built for the U.S. Emergency Fleet in a large shipbuilding effort between 1917 to 1919 as part of the United States’ engagement in World War I. The vessel type was named after the designer, Theodore E. Ferris, a senior architect for the U.S. Shipping Board.

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Photograph of the Moosabee on the water after being launched. July 13, 1918. (Source: Washington State Archives). Photograph of the Moosabee on the water after being launched. July 13, 1918. (Source: Washington State Archives). Photograph of the inside of Moosabee, hull number 23 under construction. March 31, 1918. (Source: Washington State Archives). Photograph of the inside of Moosabee, hull number 23 under construction. March 31, 1918. (Source: Washington State Archives). Photograph of dignitary Miss Elizabeth Boschke, daughter of George W. Boschke of the Oregon Rail and Navigation Company, holding flowers and standing near the bow of Moosabee, hull number 23. July 13, 1918. (Source: Washington State Archives). Photograph of dignitary Miss Elizabeth Boschke, daughter of George W. Boschke of the Oregon Rail and Navigation Company, holding flowers and standing near the bow of Moosabee, hull number 23. July 13, 1918. (Source: Washington State Archives). Photograph of the inside of Moosabee, September 30, 1917. (Source: Washington State Archives). Photograph of the inside of Moosabee, September 30, 1917. (Source: Washington State Archives). Photograph of the bow of Moosabee, hull number 23, under construction. June 30, 1918. (Source: Washington State Archives). Photograph of the bow of Moosabee, hull number 23, under construction. June 30, 1918. (Source: Washington State Archives). Screenshot of drone footage of Moosabee in Mallows Bay, Maryland. (Photo: Duke University/NOAA). Screenshot of drone footage of Moosabee in Mallows Bay, Maryland. (Photo: Duke University/NOAA). Moosabee is positioned to the left and perpendicular to the shore. (Photo: Kevin Olson) Moosabee is positioned to the left and perpendicular to the shore. (Photo: Kevin Olson)

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