Hurricane Erin Destroys Jersey Shore’s Sea King Landmark

The shipwrecked trawler Sea King’s final marker, a steel mast, stood out near Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island for decades. Hurricane Erin destroyed that mute relic of New Jersey’s marine past.

The storm’s tremendous surf tore the mast from the sand earlier this week, destroying one of the island’s most famous monuments. Locals and visitors reflect on the coast’s fragility after the resilience emblem and popular photo backdrop was removed.

Time-frozen shipwreck

Sea King history spans over sixty years. In severe fog on February 12, 1963, the 95-foot fishing trawler and a decommissioned Navy minesweeper, the Prescott, grounded on Barnegat Shoals. The Prescott was recovered and refitted, but the Sea King never moved.

Barnegat Light’s 12th Street sands gradually incorporated the ship. Tides buried and exposed the sailboat in dunes and in the surf over the years. The wreck’s most iconic emblem was the mast, which remained for decades. Many residents saw it as a glimpse into the past every time they stepped on the beach.

A Generational Marker

The pole represented more than rusty steel to the community—it symbolized remembrance. It was a meeting place for locals and a live reminder of New Jersey’s maritime legacy for history buffs. Jersey Shore visitors took photos by the mast, making it a popular Long Beach Island site.

Lost mast was felt immediately when Hurricane Erin pushed it back into the sea. Many lamented the end of an era online. One of those rare sites where history felt alive, apparent on the beach, connecting generations of families who returned summer after summer, residents said.

Hurricane Erin’s Shore Impact Grows

The center of Hurricane Erin never touched New Jersey, but its effects were catastrophic. The hurricane damaged dunes, took sand off the Jersey Shore, and banned swimming on several beaches owing to rip currents and heavy surf. Offshore storms have made the beach vulnerable, as the Sea King mast disappeared.

Barnegat Light has been destroyed by hurricanes before. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 wrecked a derelict cabin near the wreck, another local landmark.

Saving Sea King Memory

Though the mast is gone, the Sea King’s legend may continue. Local historians advocate marking the shipwreck’s position in Barnegat Light with a plaque. Residents hope Barnegat Light will survive because of New Jersey’s maritime history.

Beach Haven’s New Jersey Maritime Museum has Sea King memorabilia and archives. People interested in coastal shipwrecks and the region’s history need that museum.

Community Heritage Reflection

Lost is the Sea King mast, a symbol of seafaring endurance. Storms like Erin continue to change the Jersey Shore, but they also highlight the fragile balance between nature and history.

For Long Beach Islanders, the Sea King’s story continues. Barnegat Light’s sand and surf include the wreck sans the mast. Its legacy lives on in childhood memories, family photos, and Jersey Shore history.

Sources

New Jersey Maritime Museum
National Weather Service
Local News Reports