USS YO-257
Fuel Barge · United States · Lost 1989 · The Hawaiian Islands
A Navy fuel barge that served through three wars was deliberately sunk off Waikiki in 1989 and is now one of Oahu's most popular dive sites.
The Vessel and Her Loss
USS YO-257 was a Navy yard oiler built in the early 1940s that fueled ships through World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. After decommissioning and sale for scrap in 1982, she was acquired by a Honolulu dive tour operator and intentionally sunk off Waikiki in 1989 to create an artificial reef. She now rests upright and is one of Oahu's most visited wreck dive sites.
Vessel
- 1941
- YO-257
- Not established
- Not established
- Steel
- 174 ft
- 33 ft
- 1390
- Diesel engine, single screw
- United States Navy
Loss
- January 1, 1989
- Intentional sinking
- Off Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
- Pacific Ocean, off Oahu
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- 0
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- 85-100
- Intact and upright on a sandy seafloor, popular with divers.
- Upright
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- 21.26° N 157.84° W
- Approximate position
- Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii
General site position reported by commercial dive operators; not an independently surveyed coordinate.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (75/100)
Her precise wartime assignments and exact build date are not fully detailed in the sources reviewed.
Naval Vessel Register / NavSource Online
Vessel specifications, service history, and final disposition.
Oahu Diving (commercial dive resource)
Depth, dive conditions, and general history as related by local dive operators.
