The S.S. Sapona was part of a fleet of concrete ships commissioned by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson during WWI due to a steel shortage. Allegedly designed by Henry Ford, it was built by the Liberty Ship Building Company in Wilmington, North Carolina, and was the sister ship to the ‘Cape Fear.’
Completed after the war, the ship was sold for scrap to Carl Fisher, a Miami Beach developer, who briefly used it as a casino and oil storage facility. In 1924, Bruce Bethell, a former British war captain and liquor merchant from Nassau, bought the ship. He relocated it to Bimini, using it as a floating warehouse to store and distribute liquor during Prohibition, earning him the title ‘Bimini’s Rum King.’
In 1926, a hurricane severely damaged the ship, and later it was used as a bombing target for U.S. military training during WWII. However, after a mysterious incident in which five torpedo bombers disappeared near the Sapona on December 5, 1945, all target practice on the ship ceased.
Today, the Sapona rests in 15 feet of water near South Bimini, where the hull has been eroded by weather and bombing. Despite this, parts of the ship’s interior are still visible, and it remains a popular spot for fishing, snorkeling, and diving. Visitors can explore the wreck, swim among tropical fish, and even dive from the ship’s remains. This underwater relic, rich with history, serves as a navigational landmark and a must-visit site for history buffs and adventure seekers alike.
For tours, contact:
Bimini Islands Tours
