Introduction/Explanation:
The New Jersey Council of Diving Clubs has selected the wreck
site of the Stolt Dagali as its
Memorial Wreck. The purpose is for Member Clubs of the NJCDC to memorialize
individuals that have died. Those memorialized are individuals that are
significant to the members of the clubs forwarding the names. A club may
forward the name of any individual they please provided that the club is in
good standing with the NJCDC at the time the name(s) is forwarded. The
individual need not be a diver, but should be significant to the dive community
(examples:
served as a club officer, assisted
with a club function, inspired members, etc.).
Implementation and
Maintenance:
An explanation of why the club is
memorializing the person(s) is required, along with the signatures of the
club’s current president and current NJCDC delegate. The NJCDC will make
available nomination forms, and vote on all names submitted. Once
accepted, the NJCDC will maintain the list of those memorialized, post the list
on the NJCDC website, update the list as names are added, and mail the list to
all NJ dive shops, dive boats and current NJCDC member clubs in good standing.
They will mail this updated list once a year so that all that receive it will
know who is being memorialized at the NJCDC Memorial Wreck Site. The intention
of the NJCDC is not to place a structure, stone or marker at the site, but to simply
maintain the list.
Stolt Dagali
At 2:20 am on November 26, 1964
(Thanksgiving morning), the 25,338-ton Israeli liner Shalom cut the 12, 732-ton Norwegian tanker Stolt Dagali in two, 15 miles off the New Jersey coast opposite Sea
Girt. The collision claimed 19 lives aboard the Stolt Dagali while only a single injury was reported aboard
the Shalom. The bow of the Stolt Dagali remained afloat. The stern
sank in 130 feet of water. It has been one of New Jersey's premiere dive sites since the
day she sank.
The Stolt Dagali was built in Norway in 1955. She was 582 feet
long and had a beam of 70 feet. She weighed in at 12,723 gross tons. Stolt
is the name of the line that owned the ship; it translates as
"mountain" or "pride." Dagali is a city in Norway.
Kit Bonner writes, “The area of impact was just forward of
the aft superstructure of the tanker, and the powerful Shalom cut the
stern off like a hot knife through butter. The sheer weight of the engines of
the tanker pulled the ship apart, and the aft superstructure disappeared within
seconds. It settled to a depth of 130-ft down on the sandy bottom of the
continental shelf. The forward 2/3rds of the tanker drifted ahead with its
captain and watch Standers staring through the white fog in awe. It took just
moments for them to realize that 18 fellow crewmen and a stewardess had gone to
their deaths as stern of the ship plunged downward. Death was not likely
prolonged as the aft 1/3rd of the ship was the site of much of the crew's
sleeping quarters, and it just disappeared. There was not even a cry for help,
just the magnified sound of a thousand automobiles wrecking on a freeway in the
middle of the night. For those that witnessed the tragedy, the sound would
never be forgotten, nor the sight of the floating but heavily listing 2/3rds of
the tanker as light dawned and the fog dissipated.”
Around the time of the collision, the stern of the Norwegian 19,000-ton M/V
C.T. Gogstad (which had lost its bow while being stranded ashore) seemed a
good match as a stern-end for the Stolt
Dagali. It was decided to join the two vessels together in order to create
a third. In 1965, the Stolt Lady was launched. She went on to a fine
career as a tanker. Although damaged in the collision, the Shalom also
continued on, for 36 years.
Again, Kit Bonner writes, “In the main, fault was found with the bridge
personnel aboard the Shalom for not posting a proper lookout and
admitting that their radar was not operating properly. As to the Stolt
Dagali, there was some intrigue over the speed the tanker was making
through fog. For months, officials looked for the engine room telegraph to see
its setting. Finally, authenticated photographs surfaced from a diver, and the
setting was at "full speed." the Stolt Dagali was also
responsible for the collision. After years of legal wrangling compensation was
agree upon and the families of the drowned mariners and the stewardess were
paid.”
“Today, the aft portion of the Stolt
Dagali rests just 130-ft under the Atlantic
with its highest most point just 65-ft below the surface. It is one of the most
popular professional and amateur dive sites in North
America.”
In Memorial :
Memorial Wreck Site Nomination Form
We also have honored Ed Bogaert, a friend and diver, by sinking a NY
fireboat in his honor on the artificial reef. See information here.
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