Page 64: of Marine News Magazine (November 2021)

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Shipwrecks

Built in Scotland in 1874, for the ? rst 10 years of service,

Bear operated as part of the commercial sealing ? eet off

Newfoundland before it was bought by the U.S. government in 1884. What followed was decades of service in the challenging Arctic the elevated the ship to legendary status.

USCG

Wreck of USRC Bear

Found off Nova Scotia

By Eric Haun tion’s few survivors. The Bear was transferred from the Trea-

The decades long mystery of a missing U.S. sury Department for service in the Arctic in 1885 as a Rev-

Coast Guard Ship has ? nally been solved.

U.S. Revenue Cutter (USRC) Bear, lost at sea in 1963, enue Cutter, and for 41 years, patrolled the Arctic, saving lives has been found on the sea? oor about 90 miles south of and dispensing justice in the remote and challenging region.

Many years later, and after several roles including patrol

Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, NOAA Rear Adm. Nancy Hann missions for the U.S. Navy during World War II, Bear was ul- recently announced.

Widely considered one of the most historically signi? cant timately sold to an entrepreneur who planned to turn it into ships in American history, Bear was purchased by the U.S. a museum and restaurant on the Philadelphia waterfront, but the famed ship sunk while being towed to its new berth.

government and ? rst put into service by the U.S. Navy as part

A team of researchers from NOAA, USCG and partnering of the rescue ? eet for the Greely Expedition to the Arctic in academic institutions have spent nearly two decades trying to 1884, attaining legendary status for the rescue of the expedi- 64 | MN November 2021