Steamer

• Virtually intact with bow pointing to the South. Lies 12 miles from shore.
• Launch at the Coal Quay, Dun Laoghaire.
• Lots of marine life.
• Best dived 1 hour before High Water/Low Water.
• Visability is usually poor.
• Warning!! Subject to severe currents outside slack water.
• Warning!! Lies in the path of the HSS ferry. Check HSS time-table.
• Note!! Permission is required to dive this wreck. The owner, Desmond Brannigan, can be contacted via the Irish Underwater Council (permission is usually given).

• Built by Cammel Laird Bros. Birkenhead, in 1897 for the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company costing £95,000, she grossed 2,646 tons and measured 378 x 75 x 42ft., twin screws powered by an 8 cylinder triple-expansion steam engine, and was capable of 24 knots.
• During WW1 she was armed with 1 x 12 pounder gun plus 2 signaling guns.
• Bound Holyhead from Kingstown with 680 passengers and crew.
• Hit twice by torpedoes from UB-123, one in the bow and the other in the engine room during bad weather.
• Sank in eight minutes with the loss of 501 lives out of 771, most of whom were soldiers and in their bunks.
• Commanded by Captain W. Birch.
• Because of censorship the incident was never fully aired in public.
• Anchor is on display in the National Museum in Dun Laoghaire.