La Famille Express
Turks and Caicos
The La Famille Express is a grounded shipwreck and popular landmark near the island of Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos. It’s located about two miles (3.2 km) off of Long Bay Beach on the southeast side of the island.
How Did the La Famille Express Get There?
The history of the La Famille Express (also known as the Long Bay Shipwreck) began in 1953 in a much colder environment—the Soviet Union. The vessel started life as an oil rig service ship, transferring supplies to remote offshore oil wells. At its initial launch, the ship was christened the Форт-Шевченко, or Fort Shevchenko in English, after the military port town in the Caspian Sea.
Decades later, in 1992, the Fort Shevchenko was decommissioned. For about 10 years, the ship saw various uses in the Baltic area. It then became the maritime La Famille Express under the Panama flag in 1999, and served as a regional freighter ship in the Caribbean. At this point in its life, the La Famille Express was in poor condition and was being used to transport bulk rock—not something that a valued freighter ship would be used for.
The La Famille Express became firmly planted in the shallow waters of the Caicos Banks during Hurricane Frances in 2004. Under the high winds, the unmanned vessel had actually dragged its anchor from the South Dock area of Providenciales—a distance of almost 12 miles (19 km). This anchor is still in the water near the ship.
How to Get to the La Famille Express
As the La Famille Express is found two miles (3.2 km) offshore, it’s too far to wade or swim out to. The vessel is farther out than it looks.
Most visits are by boat cruise, jet car, or jet ski, and the ship is a popular stop of charters that visit the south side of Providenciales.
Kiteboarders launching from the unparalleled kite spot of Long Bay Beach often make the journey out.
Proficient kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders also sometimes paddle out, but casual paddlers will find the trip difficult.
Dangers of a Decaying Wreck
It’s important to be aware of the hazards and dangers of climbing on and boarding the La Famille Express. Steel vessels decay rapidly in a tropical marine environment, and this landmark is no exception. It's highly advised not to board the ship.
As well as dangerous holes in the hull and deck, razor-sharp metal shards, and broken glass, there are ample amounts of hazardous dust and particles from the old paints, iron oxide, synthetics, and petroleum products on the boat.
Boaters nearby should also take caution, as jagged bits of metal can be found in the area.
Other Shipwreck Sites in the Turks and Caicos
The Turks and Caicos archipelago, like the Bahamas and Bermuda, claimed a great number of ships over the last few centuries. Many of these vessels have completely disappeared, but there are a few still out there that make for interesting sites to visit.
One similar yet smaller ship is the Erzulie Transport stuck in the mangroves on the south coast of North Caicos. Due to its location in the very shallow Caicos Banks, this hulk is typically only seen by visitors on bonefishing trips.
Another wreck with an interesting origin is the River Arc. This freighter suddenly appeared one morning on the barrier reef off Whitby Beach on North Caicos. The ship was deserted and the generator was running. It was likely a drug running vessel that was abandoned. Today, only a small portion of the bow remains above the waterline.
The tiny Invincible freighter near Molasses Reef and West Caicos is a wreck that sits on a shallow reef and shoal. It supports a large number of seabirds.
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