North Co. Antrim Wreck List
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Vessel Type:

Steam Coaster

Location:Co. Antrim
Date of Loss:20th June 1930Place:Portrush
Cause of Loss:HoledBoat Dive from:Portrush
Charted Depth:15 - 18mIrish O.S. Map:Discovery Series No. 4
Height of Wreck:ScatteredAdmiralty Chart No:49 and/or 2798
Hull Material:Steel/IronLatitude (approx.):55° 13' 19" North
Type of Seabed:Sand and shingleLongitude (approx.):06° 41' 22" West
Average Visibility:5 - 10mConvert Lat. & Long. to -Decimal - CLICK HERE
Image available?Yes - see below Diving Experience:Experienced Novice
 
Diving Information:
  • Broken in half with wreckage scattered over a wide area.
  • Subject to mild currents.
  • Best dived at slack High or Low water.
 
Historical Information:
  • Measuring 110.3 x 21.1 x 10.1ft, the "Towy" was powered by compound 2 cylinder coal fired engine, and grossed 204 tons, 83 tons net.
  • Completed in April 1914 by Day, Summers & Co. Ltd., Southampton, for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., London, she was later sold to Ninian Shipping Co. Ltd., Cardiff on 28th May 1920; re-sold to Spillers Steamship Co. Ltd., Cardiff, on 6th April 1921, and finally sold to the Whiteabbey Shipping Co. Ltd., Co. Antrim on 19th March 1929.
  • While leaving Portstewart for Irvine in ballast, she grounded.
  • A tow to Portrush was organised, but she sank only a short distance from Portrush harbour on 20th June 1930.
  • The "Towy" was the last trader to use the harbour at Portstewart.
 

S.S. Towy

© by kind permission of James Connor

All rights respectfulyl acknowledged

Source Publications:
"Munroe Brothers, Shipowners"
byR.S. Fenton
World Ship Society 1982 - ISBN: 0905617223
"Shipwreck Index of Ireland"
 Richard & Bridget Larn
Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ltd 2002 - ISBN: 1900839970
"Shipwrecks of the Ulster Coast"
byIan Wilson
Impact Printing 1997 - ISBN: 0948154993
 
Other Sources:
Ian Morrison
-
Email (2001)
Norman Woods
-
Portstewart SAC (1990)
North Co. Antrim Wreck List

Last update - 02-Feb-2014
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