Gilbert Sea

Originally known as the Geulborg, this coastal freighter was constructed in 1966 at Scheepswerf Gebroeders Sander in Delfzijl, Netherlands. Under the ownership of E. Wagenborg’s Scheepvaart & Expeditiebedrijf, the vessel measured 175.8 feet in length, 28.7 feet in width, and displaced 529 tons. In 1977, the Geulborg was sold to Taylor Corporation, Limited of Nassau, Bahamas, and renamed Miranda. Subsequently, it changed hands again, becoming the Paradie Express in 1996 and then El Compain in 1999. However, the ship’s most dramatic transformation occurred in 2001 when it was rechristened the Gilbert Sea. Under the Bolivian flag, it sailed the seas until its fateful encounter with law enforcement during “Operation Riverwalk” on June 4, 2001. U.S. Customs Service and Coast Guard officials seized a staggering 74 pounds of cocaine from the Gilbert Sea, with inspectors uncovering hidden caches in paint cans and even a 55-gallon oil drum with a false bottom. The vessel was promptly forfeited, sold, and intentionally sunk off the coast of West Palm Beach, Florida, on March 17, 2002, at a depth of 90 feet. Now part of the Governor’s River Walk Reef, the Gilbert Sea rests alongside three other wrecks: the Sha Sha Boekanier, the St. Jacques, and the Thozina. All four vessels share a common history—they were confiscated for smuggling narcotics. Despite the ravages of hurricanes, which flattened cargo holds and tore hulls in half, these wrecks continue to captivate divers. The Gilbert Sea’s bow leans hard to starboard, while the stern lists to port. The collapsed wheelhouse reveals remnants of the wooden deck, creating an underwater tableau that defies the ordinary. Divers exploring the Governor’s River Walk Reef encounter more than twisted metal; they find a vibrant ecosystem. The proximity of the Gulf Stream to Florida’s coast ensures significant currents, but the wrecks’ vertical relief and additional concrete material provide shelter for marine life. Goliath groupers, sea turtles, roving stingrays, and even sharks grace these submerged relics.