Superior Producer Shipwreck

The MV Superior Producer started life its as the MV Andromeda. It was built in 1957 as coastal cargo ship by Handel & Scheepsbouw Maatschappij Kramer and Booy NV, from Kootstertille, Netherlands. Measuring 50.22m in length and 7.79m in width, this 400-ton freighter was delivered on 8 November 1957 to Muller and Reitsma NV, from Rotterdam, Netherlands. On 22 February, 1962, she was sold to Rederij L Remeeus NV, from Rotterdam, Netherlands when she officially became known as the MV Superior Producer.

The vessel changed hands several times over the years, until 13 November 1970, when the MV Superior Producer was sold to Pan-Ven Line SA, and re-flagged to her new home port in Panama with the sole task of moving cargo between Willemstad (Curaçao) and Pampatar (Venezeula).

On 30 September 1977, the MV Superior Producer on the inside of Curaçao Harbour (St. Annabaai) just past Queen Emma floating bridge. It was loaded with a Christmas cargo consisting of whisky, bottles of perfume, clothing and bags, destined for two local Curaçao merchants looking to profit from the upcoming holiday season.

At 13:30, the crew of nine men cast off the lines. The ship Immediately began to heel dangerously. The situation was further complicated because the crew neglected to close the portholes, and the Producer began taking on water.

After several unsuccessful attempts to pull the boat upright again, the harbourmaster decided to cease all rescue efforts. The tugboat dragged the MV Superior Producer about 500m outside the harbour entrance. At 16:30 the MV Superior Producer disappeared below the waves.

Word of the sinking spread across Curaçao like wildfire! Scuba divers, free-divers and snorkelers alike arrived on the shoreline from all over the island to scavenge the wreck for all its cargo – it was described as ‘pure chaos’ at the time – and within a few days, there was nothing left. Even the neglected portholes were gone.

Today, the wreck sits quietly upright on its keel, with her bow facing west in roughly 30m of water and about 150m from the shoreline just west of the Curaçao Mega-pier. 

Now, with roughly 30 years of growth, the MV Superior Producer is an amazing artificial reef site home to numerous colonies and different species of corals, sponges, gorgonians and sea whips. Because of this, it is a natural attraction for schools of predatory fish such as tarpon, barracuda, snappers and jacks.