This 4600 ton three masted steamer was launched in 1853 and after serving in the Crimean war as a large troopship, was sold as a coal hulk. Portland Harbour was built by the Admiralty as a facility for the Royal Navy (though access was also available to merchant ships);[3] on 11 December 1923 it was formally designated HM Naval Base (HMNB) Portland,[4] and continued to serve as such until closure in 1995. Youll find vast information on Portland dive sites from local boat operators. Weymouth and Portland [9] Known as the Admiralty Quarries, they provided 10,000 tons of stone per week. Portland Port Ltd, formed in December 1994, took possession of the site immediately and their purchase was completed on 12 December 1996. It is badly broken up with large pieces of machinery present and lying in a rock shingle sea bed. At the Breakwater Fort is a World War II 29 millimetre spigot mortar emplacement,[62] a pillbox,[63] and a battery observation post. A fine modern and recent wreck lying off St Albans Head. The academy was established as a not-for-profit company in 1999, and originally operated from various disused military buildings and facilities. Other causes of shipwrecks include mechanical failure and rough coastal weather on unforgiving rocky shores. [53] One of the most dominant of the defence structures is the Portland Breakwater Fort, located on one of the outer breakwaters. The M2 is a one-of-a-kind submarine aircraft carrier which sank off Portland in 1932 during routine exercises (see panel). [47], The harbour is a popular location for wind surfing, wreck diving and sailing. [20], Later in 1911, Hood was towed to Portsmouth and listed for disposal. Having defied an 11-month salvage attempt after its sinking, this undamaged and unique wreck has become a popular dive site in the waters of Lyme Bay. This 1300 ton armed merchant steamship was torpedoed by a German U boat and sank in 1918 while carrying railway lines. Despite her 1914 scuttling, the Royal Navy included Hood on its sale list in both 1916 and 1917. This is a British cargo ship of 5000 tons lying South of Portland. The ground varies from ledges to very rocky undulating ground. This low freeboard meant that Hood was very wet in rough weather and her maximum speed reduced rapidly as the wave height increased, making her only suitable for service in the relatively calm Mediterranean. For more information and bookings visit Dive Beyond. as well as the dozens of hermit and spider crabs. WebDONATE. 12-18m Range: Countess of Erne, Enecuri, Bombardon Unit & Landing Craft, the Dredger, James Fennel, Black Hawk (bow). WebPortland harbour wrecks accessible by boat only. Portland Harbour is home to several sites for wreck-dives, and STUART PHILPOTT never tires of exploring one of the most popular. a detailed report on this accident can be read by clicking here. The wreck, carrying a general government cargo, sits upright on the bottom. With a long maritime history, the Portland coastline and harbour has seen many kinds of ships sail through its waters. she became a total loss. Dive Sites - Underwater Explorers a detailed report on this accident can be read by clicking here. One vessel which experienced more than her fair share of bad luck was the Preveza. She measures 260 by 32 and stands 7 metres in places. Like her sisters, the ship was fitted with seven 18-inch torpedo tubes. TRIPLE-EXPANSION ENGINE. Despite its shallow depth, because it can be dived in almost any weather conditions and the lure of the wreck itself, the Dredger is even regularly visited by technical divers who use it as a platform for training. ALL CREW WERE RESCUED BY MEANS OF A LONG ROPE STRUNG FROM THE STEM OF THE SHIP TO A LARGE ROCK BY LOCAL FISHERMEN. She is broken up and difficult to locate. This British S class submarine sank first in 1955 with the loss of 13 men and was raised and sunk again as an underwater sonar target. MARBELLA TO ROTTERDAM. [29], In 1917 the RNAS seaplane base at Portland was commissioned as HMS Sarepta. a detailed report on this accident can be read by clicking here. In 1944 emplacements were constructed for two 6-pounder guns, but the guns were not mounted for a number of years. WebIn total, 418,585 troops and 144,093 vehicles would embark from Portland and Weymouth Harbours. +44(0)1305824555info@underwaterexplorers.co.uk VIDEOS ABOUT US | CONTACT HOME BLOG SALES In-store Sales Our Brands Santi Diving Go Shop online Online Repairs took only two days, and the ship left Sheerness for the Mediterranean on 18 June 1893. SHE WAS DEMOLISHED WITH EXPLOSIVES IN 1904. In 2005 WPNSA was selected to host the sailing events at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The port's aim was of developing the ship repair, leisure and tourism potential of the harbour. Portland Harbour the ss bournemouth wrecked on rocks near portland bill 1886. all 160 passengers were rescued. The commercial port has expanded since its initial establishment; the Britannia Passenger Terminal was opened by HRH Prince Philip on 14 July 1999. [70], On the North Eastern Breakwater, within the centre area, is a World War II coastal battery with coast artillery searchlights. She was built in the early 1880s and the conversion took place 1889. Shes a Greek registered bulk freighter of 14,000 tons and lies on a limestone sea bed on her port side. She also was fitted with a plough-shaped underwater ram. Her wreck became known as "Old Hole in the Wall". This site offers some of the most enchanting sea life scenes in the area and is the spot where authors of this site first witnessed the Dance of the Cuttlefish, an amazing scene involving a dozen cuttlefish swaying in one place replicating the colours of each other. Portland Harbor Five shipwrecks that haunt Dorset's underwater graveyard Partly salvaged, lies on a sand sea bed. She sits upright on a shingle and gravel seabed. WebThe Portland Harbor Museum's exhibit presents the variety of shipwreck causes, both man-made and natural that occurred over the years. Harbour Wrecks VII gun. SMB Required. 40-60m RANGE: Salsette, Buccaneer, Merchant Royal, Warrior 2. Pictures: The shipwrecks of Portland and Chesil WebThe Portland Harbor Museum's exhibit presents the variety of shipwreck causes, both man-made and natural that occurred over the years. The jetty is only a short walk from the car park and centre. WebThis is a documentation and monitoring programme to survey underwater sites around Weymouth and Portland, including the wrecks of Portland Harbo Private Only members can see who's in the group and what they post. In 1905 the 3-pounders on the forward superstructure were removed while the 3-pounders in the lower fighting tops were removed while the ship was in reserve from 190709. This passenger liner paddle steamer was later converted to a coal hulk but in 1935 broke loose from her moorings and sank against the breakwater inside Portland Harbour. It is an interesting dive that leads to the wheel house and exposed engine at the stern. [19] On 2 April 1911 the ship was in Cork Harbour for the 1911 Census. Advertisement. THE SS BOURNEMOUTH WRECKED ON ROCKS NEAR PORTLAND BILL 1886. The wreck was blown by explosives to clear the way for the Winfrith pipeline. A well-broken steamship of about 2000 tons standing 6 metres off the sea bed. SMB Required. She displaced 14,780 long tons (15,020t) at normal load and 15,588 long tons (15,838t) at deep load. However, despite published reports in 1996 revealing that Portland Port Ltd were interested in the renovation of historic coastal fortifications in the area, no restoration of any kind has taken place.[40]. Her waterline main belt ranged in thickness between 14 to 18 inches (356 to 457mm) thick. Especially in good sea conditions a dive on the deeper edge of the shambles can be very rewarding for divers with varying interests. Name last changed on November This 1080 ton British submarine measures 230 by 24 and sunk in 1924 after a collusion with the HMS Resolution. Shipwrecks - Geoff Kirby This had the effect of making her roll period shorter by around 7% compared to her sisters, which in turn made her gunnery less accurate. As above but the stern lies on her starboard side with the prop missing and on a gravel, shingle and sand sea bed. The 6-inch gun was removed in 1924 and in 1934 two 12-pounder guns were transferred across from the recently decommissioned B Pier Head. WHEN THE CAPTAIN DROVE ASHORE IN CHESIL COVE ON SEPT. 20TH 1930. [57][58] At the top of the Incline Road is the abandoned Old Engine Shed that once served the cable-operated inclined railway that ran to Castletown through the Navy Dockyard that is now Portland Port. They were removed in 1904. Weymouth and Portland She measures 240 by 32. The exhibit explores efforts to prevent disaster through the development of lighthouses and other aids to navigation. As part of the NRDA process, separate from the EPA cleanup process, NOAA and its co-trustees are conducting an injury assessment at the site. For details and photos visit our COUNTESS OF ERNE page. All three Boscawen ships were sold in 1906. Frequent visitor John Liddiard reveals his route. The gun turrets and their bases were protected by 17 inches (432mm) of armour that thinned to 16 inches (406mm) behind the oblique bulkheads. [5], Because the stability of a ship is largely due to freeboard at high rolling angles, she was given a larger metacentric height (the vertical distance between the metacenter and the centre of gravity below it) of around 4.1 feet (1.2m) instead of the 3.6 feet (1.1m) of the rest of the Royal Sovereigns to make her roll less in rough seas. A DETAILED REPORT ON THIS ACCIDENT CAN BE READ BY CLICKING HERE. Her wreck became known as "Old Hole in the Wall". WebPortland Harbour offers half a dozen of wreck sites, one of the most popular and intact of these is the Countess Of Erne ~ one of the most popular Portland Harbour wreck sites, Depth Max 16m. It is badly silted and fairly broken up but is full of marine life. Better still, the premises boasts a number of additional facilities from rinsing showers to drying rooms, toilets and excellent cafe, even on-site accommodation if you want to stay local. Shonas Wrecks During 1913 and 1914 she was employed as a target for underwater protection experiments and was used in secret tests of anti-torpedo bulges. LAY RIGHT ACROSS THE PORTLAND SEWER OUTFALL WHICH WAS SMASHED. [24] Before being installed on the battlecruiser, the bell was inscribed around the base with the words: "This bell was preserved from HMS Hood battleship 18911914 by the late rear admiral, The Honourable Sir Horace Hood KCB, DSO, MVO killed at Jutland on 31st May 1916. Webmore pictures and details of portland shipwrecks can be found here. WebOn 4 November 1914 Hood was scuttled in Portland harbour to block the Southern Ship Channel, a potential access route for U-boats or for torpedoes fired from outside the harbour. However, it is tidal. Hood was laid down at Chatham Dockyard on 12 August 1889 and was launched on 30 July 1891, the Viscountess Hood christening her. The armour of the main-deck casemates was 6 inches thick and that of the forward conning tower was 14 inches thick. [67] A World War I torpedo station was also located on 'A' Head, using two 18 inch torpedo tubes which were operational from 1915 until 1918. Construction of the harbour began in 1849; when completed in 1872, its 520-hectare (1,300-acre) surface area made it the largest man-made harbour in the world, and remains one of the largest in the world today. For a great review and drawing of the Landing Craft and Bombardon Unit, dont miss the article in the January 2014 issue of Diver magazine by John Liddiard and Max Ellis. By the First World War the 12-pounder guns had been removed and replaced with a 6-inch breech-loading (BL) Mk. Landing Craft and Bombardon Unit (17-19m). SUNKEN SCHOONER DEVORAN. General History Group created on November 15, 2013. A requisitioned yacht sunk by German aircraft in 1940. From there you can either follow the line or the breakwater wall (keeping at your left) to the Bombardon Unit. A British steamship of 4200 tons she was requisitioned by the government during WWI and was torpedoed and sunk on April 15, 1918 en route from London to Newfoundland with a loss of fifty lives. Picking up and dropping off at Castletown Jetty just minutes away from all the harbour wrecks is Dive Beyond operating two diving RIBS with ladders. The coastal battery opened in 1901 and was armed with two 12-pounder quick-firing (QF) guns for anti-torpedo craft defence. In 1944 emplacements were constructed to replace the 12-pounder guns with 6-pounders. This occasion saw a biplane demonstrate the first British flight from a moving ship, and afterwards the king took the first ever royal trip in a submarine. Be careful in poor visibility as it is easy to find oneself in the wreck without even knowing it! Shipwrecks - Geoff Kirby Torch Recommended. Portland Harbour Wrecks [4], Coaling facilities were initially integrated into the design of the inner breakwater. LOST OFF OF PORTLAND WITH ALL LIVES JANUARY 26TH 1932, ITEMS RETRIEVED FROM WRECK OF HM SUBMARINE M2. [6], Portland Port Group became Statutory Harbour Authority for Portland Harbour on 1 January 1998, replacing the Queen's Harbour Master. SUNK BY COLLISION WITH A TORPEDO DESTROYER IN PORTLAND ROADS. By 2012 Osprey Quay had been transformed with huge investment, offering over 11 hectares, a total of 60,000 square metres of business space.[48]. [9], The ship was armed with four 32-calibre BL 13.5-inch Mk IIV guns in two twin gun turrets, one fore and aft of the superstructure. [49] The victualling store was built around 1850. to Lyme Bay and further out in the English Channel. Tidal flow within the Harbour is generally anti-clockwise, sweeping away from the Fleet, through the Port area and through the South Ship Channel. Maximum depth is about 6 to 7 metres depending on the state of the tide. Despite her 1914 scuttling, the Royal Navy included Hood on its sale list in both 1916 and 1917. [1 1] Hood's half-sisters mounted their guns exposed on top of barbettes, a much lighter arrangement that allowed their freeboard to be substantially increased. Wreck Portland Located as it is inside the breakwater, the wreck is well-protected from wind and waves. Features include an easily [45], The Harbour was sold off by the Royal Navy in 1996 allowing it to be used as both a centre for water sports and as a service facility for Channel shipping. The seabed is made out of shifting gravel and parts of the wreck stand 7 metres high. PORTLAND, Ore. A driver died after crashing on NE Marine Drive early Monday morning, according to Portland police. Shipwrecks - portlandharbormuseum.org Portland [40] Following this, RNAS Portland also closed in October 1999. This pre-World War MTB destroyer sank while being towed back to Portland after being used as a target for battleship practice and taking two direct hits on her guns. Aside from the East Weare Battery, and other related constructions, there are a number of defences built within the harbour's dockyard and surrounding area. AN ACCOUNT OF THIS WRECK CAN BE READ BY CLICKING. The wreckage is pretty much broken up. The original harbour was naturally protected by the south coast of England, Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland, providing refuge for ships against weather in all directions except east. A number of wrecks lie both inside and immediately outside the breakwater walls attracting hundreds of divers every year. Webmore pictures and details of portland shipwrecks can be found here. [39] At the time, the Dockyard employed 'some 1,600 industrial and non-industrial staff'. It is believed there have been at least 1,000 shipwrecks along the Dorset coast over the centuries. Going far out from the area could lead to deeper grounds with depths ranging in excess of 35 metres but sticking to shore, especially in the kelp beds, divers can see plenty of sea life, crabs and lobsters. WebWith the weather at gale force, the tug started to tow the Aeolian Sky into the storm to try to make the shelter of Portland Harbour. bournemouth. Advertisement. A major government project, the construction work had become Dorset's greatest tourist attraction of its time. In 1924, Portland's Anti-Submarine School (having been consolidated with similar units from HMS Vernon and HM Signal School, Portsmouth) was commissioned as HMS Osprey, becoming an independent shore command. In October 2007 work commenced on a new marina and recreational boating facility. [87], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}503506N 22642W / 50.585N 2.445W / 50.585; -2.445. Commercial activities on the land of the dock estate include fuel storage, natural gas storage, several engineering facilities and a shell fish specialist. DROVE ONTO CHESIL BEACH IN GALE THROUGH BREAKDOWN OF ENGINE, SALVAGE TUG ELLIDA ASHORE ON CHESIL BEACH 1920, SS GERTRUDE (HARTLEPOOL) ON THE ROCKS AT CLAY HOPE NEAR BLACKNOR POINT AUGUST 26TH 1904, HMS HOOD SCUTTLED TO PROTECT PORTLAND HARBOUR IN 1914. Inshore wrecks Some 250,000 tonnes of Portland Stone was used in creating the 875m breakwater and associated reclaimed land. It covered the middle 250 feet (76.2m) of the ship and was 8.5 feet (2.6m) high of which 5feet 6inches (1.7m) was below the waterline at normal load. The M2 is a one-of-a-kind submarine aircraft carrier which sank off Portland in 1932 during routine exercises (see panel). Portland A major problem with the four of these guns mounted on the upper deck was that they were mounted low in the ship and were unusable at high speed or in heavy weather. bournemouth. WebPortland harbour wrecks accessible by boat only. Portland Harbor Other causes of shipwrecks include mechanical failure and rough coastal weather on unforgiving rocky shores. WebDONATE. Designed by engineer James Meadows Rendel, the work carried out under civil engineer John Towlerton Leather, with Rendel as engineer in chief (until his death in 1856), and John Coode as resident engineer. This is a very rewarding dive with depths ranging from 16 to 25 metres maximum. It is also very accommodating to recreational and technical courses. Unfortunately, conditions worsened quickly and the vessel was caught in a major storm with strong winds, high seas, and snow-impaired visibility. This passenger liner Paddle steamer was later converted to a coal hulk but in 1935 broke loose from her moorings and sank against the breakwater. In 2003 the academy was able to start redevelopment of the site. WebA significant number of UB-40s sinkings were in Dorset waters, including the LH Carl, sunk on the same day. Easily accessibly via Dive Boats shuttling out of Portland Marina and Castletown these wrecks are shallower than 20m and can be dived on all state of tides. SS PATROCLUS SALVAGE OPERATION 1907. Project Baseline is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 88-0481587) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In recent years the number of cruise ship calls have increased at the port. She served most of her active career in the Mediterranean Sea, where her low freeboard was less of a disadvantage. The armoured deck was 3 inches thick over the machinery, but thinned to 2.5 inches (64mm) outside the central citadel and ran to the ends of the ship. WebWith the weather at gale force, the tug started to tow the Aeolian Sky into the storm to try to make the shelter of Portland Harbour. It is an interesting, but silty, dive and offers an underwater platform for training activities. [64] Further along the same arm, towards Portland, are two World War II coast artillery searchlights. [54] It is Grade II Listed. Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England. [49] The outer breakwater is also Grade II Listed. Four of these were mounted on the main deck in casemates on the sides of the hull and suffered from the same problems as the six-inch guns. For the port in Maine, see, Creation of harbour of refuge (18441872), Post-war role and closure of naval base (1946-1995), Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment, Portland Naval Communication Headquarters, Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment (AUWE), Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, "Sandsfoot Castle, Weymouth and Portland (1020062)", "The Jurassic Coast - Portland and Weymouth", "Historic England Grade II listing: Dockyard Offices", "Isle of Portland Quarries - Geology by Ian West", "Details from listed building database (1021435)", "East Weare rifle range, Portland (1428958)", "Portland historian Stuart Morris on the importance of the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse", "Historic England Grade II listing: Inner and outer breakwater", "Digitally Copied Navy Lists available on line", "Danger UXB Portland's World War 2 UneXploded Bomb | Dorset Life - The Dorset Magazine", "WW2 People's War - H.M.S. HMS Hood (1891 Intact and lying on its side. If you follow this pipe along the top until the end, it will give a maximum depth of approximately 12 metres from where you can take a compass bearing of 350 degrees for a short distance, a new compass bearing of 90 degrees which will lead divers to a large kelp bed, over rocks and back to shore. Websince 2010 for the Portland Harbor site, to evaluate natural resource injuries incurred over time in areas contaminated with hazardous substances (such as DDT, PCBs, and others), and oil. It is believed there have been at least 1,000 shipwrecks along the Dorset coast over the centuries. The wreck was blown by explosives to clear the way for the Winfrith pipeline. Dive time for this area is 4 hours after HW and the dive window is about 45 minutes. Dutch steamship of 6800 tons mined and sunk in 1939 just East of the adamant shoal, approximately 500 long. She lies upright. This was intended to allow them to reach a speed of 17.5 knots (32.4km/h; 20.1mph). In May 1896, Hood steamed from Malta to Crete to protect British interests and subjects there during unrest among Cretan Greeks who opposed the Ottoman Empires rule of the island. Nearly 400 souls were lost on her. Her crew numbered 690 officers and ratings. The battery was opened in 1901 and was armed with two 12-pounder quick-firing (QF) guns for anti-torpedo craft defence. HMS Hood (1891 HMS Hood was a modified Royal Sovereign-class pre-dreadnought battleship built for the Royal Navy in the early 1890s. [18] She participated in combined exercises with the Channel Squadron and the Cruiser Squadron off the coasts of Cephalonia and Morea in late 1902. This area is covered in various sizes of metal objects, most of which came from ill-fated ships driven ashore by strong winds and tides many years ago. The exhibit explores efforts to prevent disaster through the development of lighthouses and other aids to navigation. During World War II a number of anti-invasion structures were placed at Balaclava Bay, including an anti boat landing obstacle,[81] and a minefield. THERE IS CONFUSION IN THE ARCHIVE WHETHER SOME OF THESE PICTURES COULD BE EITHER THE PATRIA OR THE ANN MARIA, PATROCLUS CAME ASHORE AT BORROWHILL PORTLAND 19 SEPTEMBER 1907, SALVAGING THE SS PATROCLUS SEPTEMBER 20TH 1907, ELEVEN PUMPS AT WORK TO REFLOAT HER. She went first to Malta for temporary repairs, then on to England for permanent repairs at Chatham Dockyard, using her twin screws to steer for the entire voyage. [26], The development of both the torpedo and the submarine led to Portland Harbour becoming a centre for research into underwater warfare, beginning with the establishment of Robert Whitehead's Torpedo Works at Wyke Regis in 1891. [43], Royal Navy operations ceased on 21 July 1995 and the harbour was sold on 29 March 1996. [23] In the early years of the 20th century it served as base for the Navy's first Torpedo Boat Destroyers. Enecuri | The Spaniard? Depending on the tide, divers can get a good drift dive in this area. WebWith the weather at gale force, the tug started to tow the Aeolian Sky into the storm to try to make the shelter of Portland Harbour. Topedoed by a German sub in December 1944, towed into Worbarrow and beached. SAILORS PREPARING TO DESTROY BY EXPLOSIVES. Portland Harbour (2 to 19m) represents a semi-artificial deep water tidal basin enclosed by breakwaters.
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