Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay

Off the Nanjemoy Peninsula of Charles County, Maryland shoreline in the Potomac River is the resting place of more than two hundred ships. Read on to discover the rich history of this National Marine Sanctuary, and also check out documents about the sanctuary using this search on GovInfo.

Commonly referred to as the “Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay,” the sunken remains of the majority of these wooden steamships were built for the U.S. Emergency Fleet during World War I (WWI). In September 1916, Congress enacted the Shipping Act of 1916 which established the United States Shipping Board (USSB). This was in response to the shipping shortage caused by a large amount of merchant ships being sunk by German U boats during World War I. The USSB regulated the U.S. commercial shipping industry and concentrated on building a large merchant fleet built between 1917-1919 to support the war effort. As a result, this fleet was constructed at more than 40 shipyards in 17 states. World War I ended before many of these ships saw action. Over time, the ships were brought to the Potomac River to be salvaged for scrap metal, and the remnants of the Ghost Fleet found a final resting place in Mallows Bay.

In 2015, the Ghost Fleet was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) (National Register Listing Number 15000173, April 24, 2015). This made its value nationally recognized for its historical, cultural or archaeological qualities and eligible for additional Federal protection.

On September 3, 2019, Mallows Bay was declared a National Marine Sanctuary. As a part of this designation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provided additional protection of the cultural heritage resources of this site that is rich in maritime history, archaeological, and ecological resources. You can visit NOAA’s website to schedule a tour to explore the Ghost Fleet by kayak, experience the hiking trail which is the home of several bald eagles or explore the Ghost Fleet by way of their 360 video.

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) 16 U.S.C. 1431 authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to designate and protect as national marine sanctuaries areas of the marine environment that are of special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, archaeological, educational, or aesthetic qualities. Day-to-day management of national marine sanctuaries has been delegated by the Secretary of Commerce to NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS). The primary objective of NMSA is to protect the sanctuary system's biological and cultural resources, such as coral reefs, marine animals, historic shipwrecks, historic structures, and archaeological sites.

Additional Article Sources and Resources

• The Ships of Mallows Bay, Maritime Administration (MARAD), Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Aerial footage of Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary (NOAA)
• Management Plan & Designation Documentation
• NOAA announces $5 million to design a new visitor center for Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary