On January 2, 1953, the Liberian-flagged steamship SS Archimede was towed into Horta Harbor by the British vessel Cape Arapton. The Archimede had been en route to the Gulf of Mexico with a crew of 29 men when it lost a propeller mid-voyage and was redirected to Horta for repairs.

⚓ A Sudden Storm

On the night of January 12, while anchored in Horta Bay, the Archimede was hit by a violent storm. The ship dragged anchor and was blown onto the seawall near Largo do Infante, the area where Horta Marina now stands.

"The island of Faial was struck by a violent storm with wind gusts exceeding 120 kilometers per hour."
— O Telégrafo, January 14, 1953

The paper added:

"The damage caused by last February’s storm hadn’t yet fully healed, and now again, nature’s fury brought heavy losses to our island — estimated in the tens of thousands of escudos.

Despite safety measures taken in the harbor, the Liberian steamship Archimede, which had arrived days ago without a propeller, was dragged by the storm and grounded at Largo do Infante. Weighing 7,157 tons and in ballast, the ship was not in immediate danger and local efforts were being made to refloat her."

🛳️ A Ship in the Middle of the City

On January 15, Correio da Horta reported that a Danish tugboat was on its way to attempt to free the grounded vessel.

The refloating effort succeeded on January 23, thanks to the hired tug. After necessary repairs, the Archimede finally departed from Horta on February 22.

For about ten days, the city of Horta experienced a rare and surreal sight:

"A massive ocean liner grounded in the heart of the city."

🚤 The Struggles of Calheta

The storm also affected other vessels that day. The motorboat Calheta, traveling from Pico Island to Faial with passengers, was unable to enter Horta’s inner harbor due to the mooring lines tied to the Archimede.

With cyclonic winds and rough seas, the Calheta diverted to Porto Pim Bay, where it successfully disembarked passengers and several crew members.

Afterward, only two men remained on board:

• Manuel Alves (Mestre Simão)
• Goulart, the machinist

They managed to approach the dock at Horta to receive fuel, food, and reinforcements, before attempting to seek shelter near the Espalamaca headland.

🏅 Honors for Courage

The Harbor Authority of Horta publicly praised Manuel Alves, the captain of the Calheta, for his bravery:

"For the remarkable calm, courage, and decisiveness he showed during the storm on January 12 — which were essential in avoiding material loss or personal tragedy aboard the Calheta."

🌬️ Legacy of the 1953 Storm

This intense winter storm left its mark not only in terms of physical damage, but in stories of maritime resilience and human resolve. The image of the SS Archimede grounded at the city’s doorstep, and the actions of sailors like Mestre Simão, have since become part of Horta’s maritime memory.

“The sea tests men — but some men rise to meet it.”

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