The wreck fishing vessel Van Camp No.1 lies on the lagoon-side reef of northern Fogafale, Funafuti.

It was blown ashore during hurricane Bebe on October 21, 1972.

Three vessels of the Van Camp fishing fleet were in the lagoon and all were grounded during the storm. However, the other two were able to be salvaged and refloated.

A Tuvaluan seaman aboard the Van Camp No.1 bravely swam ashore shortly after it grounded, and fastened a rope to a tree so that his comrades could get ashore using the rope. All the crew survived.

To this day, the visible wreck rusts away and has deteriorated over the years.

Photos:

January 1978, looking northwest. (c) Brian Cannon

January 1978, looking south. (c) Brian Cannon

May 2002. (c) Bob Girdo

2003. (c) Tuvalu.tv

View from Google Panoramio.

October 2005. (c) Brian Cannon

March 2006. (c) Monise Laafai

February 2007. (c) Paeniu Family