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This wreck is under threat - sign petition to save her here

Diving Information:   

• Wreck is huge - 900ft. long
• She lies upright and is quite broken up
• Bow is still intact.
• Possible to descend directly into the hold without realising it.
• The iron ore is in marble-sized granules.
• Launch from Baltimore.
• Wreck is owned by Sean Kent.
• Warning!! Subject to strong currents.

Historical Information:

• Built by Swan Hunter, Haverton Hill, in the 1970’s, she grossed 89,438 tons and measuered 294.13 x 44.19 x 25.01 metres.
• Is the largest wreck in Europe.
• Was carrying 165,000 tons of iron ore and 2,000 tons of oil from Seven Islands, Quebec for the River Clyde.
• Ran aground on the Stagg Rocks during a gale after losing steerage.
• She had previously sheltered for a few days in Bantry Bay to repair cracks in her decks before venturing out.
• The 28 crew were air-lifted off by the RAF, and her engines were left running in reverse to try and dislodge her.
• The Dutch tug "Smit Rotterdam" failed to tow her off.
• The following Spring she broke in three and sank.
• The vessel was worth £8.4m. and the cargo £2.7m.
• Her 1,200 tons of bunker fuel caused serious pollution in the area.

Source Publications:

"Irish Wrecks Database"	by	Roy Stokes & Liam Dowling
"Shipwreck Index of Ireland"	by	Richard & Bridget Larn
		Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ltd 2002 - ISBN: 1900839970
"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 1105 – 1993"	by	Edward J. Bourke
		Edward J. Bourke 1994 - ISBN: 0952302705

Other Sources:

Aquaventures	-	Internet (2001)
Dom McGlinchey	-	Dive Ireland Conference 2000
UK Diving	-	Internet (1999)

Last update - 22-Aug-2006

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