[82] A little further south is a coast artillery searchlight. S.S. SANDAL ON FIRE PORTLAND HARBOUR 1907. Both seacocks and explosives were used to sink her, but she rolled to port and capsized onto seabed. It is generally accepted that she sunk after diving with the hangar doors open (as they are today). Ideal for diving all season. ALL 160 PASSENGERS WERE RESCUED. WebDespite weather warnings (which the captain may or may not have received), the ship headed northeast out of the harbor on a track to Portland, Maine. General History Group created on November 15, 2013. Located as it is inside the breakwater, the wreck is well-protected from wind and waves. [6], Over time, Portland was successively the base for the Channel and Home Fleets, as well as part of the Reserve Fleet, and it also served as a depot for submarines. Like her sisters, the ship was fitted with seven 18-inch torpedo tubes. This 6010 ton ship was launched in 1870 named Invincible and operated for some time as the Erebus. Commercial dive boats and club boats launching from harbour. SMB Required. [5] Prompted by the expansion of the French naval port of Cherbourg, just across the Channel, the Royal Navy established a base at Portland in 1845 and a scheme for the harbour to be transformed into a refuge was granted parliamentary approval the year before. Portland Harbour (2 to 19m) represents a semi-artificial deep water tidal basin enclosed by breakwaters. Tidal flow within the Harbour is generally anti-clockwise, sweeping away from the Fleet, through the Port area and through the South Ship Channel. From scenic shore dives to passenger liners and U-Boatslying on the seabed theres a dive for every level of experience. bournemouth. ARMED. [6] Similar harbours of refuge would be built at Alderney, Dover, Holyhead, and later (in response to the increased naval threat from Germany) at Peterhead. She lies on a sand and shingle sea bed. [37] Within the same statement Sheerness Dockyard and a number of other naval establishments were also slated for closure. Shonas Wrecks 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. The Countess of Erne is probably the most popular dive-site in Portland Harbour. This 3000 ton Spanish steamship dragged her anchor in a Force 9 gale in December 1900 and was grounded on the rocks close to the Breakwater where she slipped and eventually sank. In September 2022, a project costing 26m for a deep-water berth upgrade was due to begin, intended to be completed by May 2023. [14], The ship rejoined the Mediterranean Fleet at the end of 1901, and Captain Robert Lowry was appointed in command on 1 May 1902. Portland Harbour is home to several sites for wreck-dives, and STUART PHILPOTT never tires of exploring one of the most popular. Aside from the training of Royal Navy ships, many ships of NATO countries also trained and frequented at the harbour. Name last changed on November [75] Additionally there is a World War I battery observation post. The M2 is not far west round the Bill, is about 300 and all hands were lost on her when she sunk in January 1932. Five shipwrecks that haunt Dorset's underwater graveyard Commercial activities on the land of the dock estate include fuel storage, natural gas storage, several engineering facilities and a shell fish specialist. The Dredger lies right outside of Portland Harbour within the shelter of Balaclava bay, right in front of the large winch and many anchors that can be spotted from see. She carried a maximum of 1,490 long tons (1,510t) of coal, enough to steam 4,720 nautical miles (8,740km; 5,430mi) at 10 knots (19km/h; 12mph). The battery was opened in 1901 and was armed with two 12-pounder quick-firing (QF) guns for anti-torpedo craft defence. There are items of unexploded ammunition on her including depth charges. [42] It went on to become the largest naval helicopter airfield in Europe. A major government project, the construction work had become Dorset's greatest tourist attraction of its time. Foylebank - Part Three", "Subterranea Britannica: Sites: Portland underground Naval Headquarters & Communications Centre", "Northern Chiswell and Northern Fortuneswell", "Maritime Archaeology Trust Maritime Archaeology Trust, HWTMA Mulberry Harbour", "MULBERRY HARBOUR, TWO SECTIONS CIRCA 115 METRES NORTH OF PIER (1203075)", "BBC ON THIS DAY | 13 | 1961: Five Britons accused of spying for Moscow", "Portland's naval history ends as last warship sails", "EGDP Portland Heliport - Helicopter Database", "Dorset Coast Landscape and Seascape Assessment", "Portland Port's 26m deep-water berth upgrade set to start", "Asylum seeker barge plan could face legal challenge", "History - WPNSA - Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy", "Details from listed building database (1203106)", "Details from listed building database (1205991)", "Details from listed building database (1281863)", "Details from listed building database (1002412)", "Details from listed building database (1205814)", "Details from listed building database (1280475)", "Details from listed building database (1203099)", "Details from listed building database (1203074)", "Visitor centre for Island (From Dorset Echo)", "Details from listed building database (1389124)", Coxswain Edward Palmer, awarded BEM for rescue work following the sinking of HMS Foylebank in Portland Harbour, July 1940, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portland_Harbour&oldid=1152429965, Ports and harbours of the English Channel, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2016, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Floating Dry Dock Development at Queen's Pier. Hood, the last of the eight Royal Sovereign-class battleships to be built, differed significantly from the other ships of her class in that she had a forward freeboard of only 11feet 3inches (3.43m) compared to 19feet 6inches (5.94m) of the other ships. Weymouth and Portland ALL CREW WERE RESCUED BY MEANS OF A LONG ROPE STRUNG FROM THE STEM OF THE SHIP TO A LARGE ROCK BY LOCAL FISHERMEN. Portland Port Ltd, formed in December 1994, took possession of the site immediately and their purchase was completed on 12 December 1996. The development is designed to increase berthing opportunities and provide more operational land. [40] Following this, RNAS Portland also closed in October 1999. She stands 15 metres and is a huge wreck with her bows broken off and amid ship and stern listing Starboard. ", 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}503409N 22516W / 50.56917N 2.42111W / 50.56917; -2.42111. The restricted water exchange leads to elevated water temperatures which accounts for the presence of several marine species beyond the typical northern limits of their range. Topedoed by a German sub in December 1944, towed into Worbarrow and beached. SHE WAS DEMOLISHED WITH EXPLOSIVES IN 1904. GERMAN LINER BULOW ASHORE AT MUTTON COVE PORTLAND 1943. WebIn total, 418,585 troops and 144,093 vehicles would embark from Portland and Weymouth Harbours. The stern is complete and amidship there is an engine and boiler. Webmore pictures and details of portland shipwrecks can be found here. It was decommissioned two years later, but not before the establishment under its command of a 'listening school' to help develop hydrophone underwater listening devices and other anti-submarine measures, and to train personnel in their use. A Swedish steamship which sank off the Cave Hole on Portland in 1882. In its entirety, the Harbour is an ecosystem of very high importance including a number of nationally important habitats and species. This small 127 ton ton motor stands 3 to 4 metres high in some areas and was carrying China clay when she sank after hitting an obstruction in September 1930. Today, Salsette lies on her port side in 45m with her starboard rail around 32m. In the 20th century, Portland became increasingly renowned for its training and research facilities. Features include an easily Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Hood was used in the development of anti-torpedo bulges in 1913 and was scuttled in late 1914 to act as a blockship across the southern entrance of Portland Harbour after the start of World War I. ONLY THE THREE MASTS WERE SAVED. Visible Anyone can find this group. An ex American submarine sunk on purpose, upright, as a sonar target in August 1947. A NORWEGIAN BARQUE (GRIMSTAD) GT 607. SUNKEN SCHOONER DEVORAN. It is an interesting dive that leads to the wheel house and exposed engine at the stern. This is reported to be a wreck with a deck at 58 metres sitting at 70+ metres of a sea bed and 400 ft long. 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. a naturalist trail beside the rocks it rests against. The M2 is a one-of-a-kind submarine aircraft carrier which sank off Portland in 1932 during routine exercises (see panel). A purpose-built pier projecting into the harbour from the factory was used for torpedo testing and practice firing. Dive Sites - Underwater Explorers A DETAILED REPORT ON THIS ACCIDENT CAN BE READ BY CLICKING, A DETAILED HISTORY OF THIS SHIP AND ITS MISHAPS CAN BE READ BY CLICKING, SS PREVEZA RAN ASHORE ON CHESIL BEACH 15TH JAN 1920. WebPortland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England. One of the few large wrecks on the East side of the bill. She was ordered to return home in March 1900 and paid off into reserve at Chatham Dockyard on 29 April 1900. [7], Hood had an overall length of 410feet 6inches (125.1m), a beam of 75 feet (22.9m), and a draught of 28feet 6inches (8.7m) at deep load. 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. [76], The Weymouth end breakwater features the C Pier Head Battery on the southern tip. Ideal for diving all season. A 6127 ton French liner which was torpedoed by a German E boat in 1940. [31] In July 1940, the anti-aircraft ship HMS Foylebank was attacked by Stuka dive-bombers and sank in the harbour. With a long maritime history, the Portland coastline and harbour has seen many kinds of ships sail through its waters. 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. 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. Eight water-tube boilers provided steam to the engines, which produced a maximum of 11,000 indicated horsepower (8,200kW) when forced. WRECK ON CHESIL BEACH (DOROTHEA) FEBRUARY 14TH 1914. In recent years the number of cruise ship calls have increased at the port. read more Shore Diving Portland offers one of the best shore on the South Coast with Chesil Cove being the highlight for many pleasurable scenic dives full of marine life. Bottlebank Drift (19m). She now lies in two parts on a shingle sea bed. Portland By 1913 the battery's armament included four 12-pounder guns and a 6-inch breech-loading (BL) Mk. 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. +44(0)1305824555info@underwaterexplorers.co.uk VIDEOS ABOUT US | CONTACT HOME BLOG SALES In-store Sales Our Brands Santi Diving Go Shop online Online A FEW DAYS LATER, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO TOW HER OFF THE ROCKS BUT SHE SANK IMMEDIATELY. 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. Portland Harbour Wrecks 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. Features include an easily THE SS BOURNEMOUTH WRECKED ON ROCKS NEAR PORTLAND BILL 1886. Topedoed by a German sub in December 1944, towed into Worbarrow and beached. WebFate: Sunk 04 November 1914 as a blockship for southern entrance to Portland Harbour, designed to stop U-boats entering or firing torpedoes into Channel Fleet anchorage. The vessel broke into two after impact and sunk. SS OKAHANDJA WENT ASHORE AT WESTCLIFF JUNE 1910. This is on the outside of the breakwater and just around the corner from the Fort. [20] In 1905, the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse was erected on the southern end of northeast breakwater, where it continues to operate today.[21]. She stands about 13 metres throughout with her bows to the South and stern to the North. Portland Harbour This British armed tug was sunk by accident while towing a target in August 1946 and now lies on a shingle seabed uprights and intact. [6], After the war, in 1946, ten Phoenix caissons of the Mulberry Harbour were towed back to Portland, eight of which were later given to the Netherlands to repair storm breaches in the dykes in 1953. There are very few tide restrictions or currents in this area, although surf and surge may sometimes make the entry and exit points require extra care. 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. Offshore wrecks This vessel was a sand dredger and makes an excellent dive both for training and as? Dive time for this area is 4 hours after HW and the dive window is about 45 minutes. Advertisement. Dive Sites - Underwater Explorers Above 18m: The Countess of Erne - divernet.com 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. This is a British cargo ship of 5000 tons lying South of Portland. [64] Further along the same arm, towards Portland, are two World War II coast artillery searchlights. Nearly 400 souls were lost on her. Partly salvaged, lies on a sand sea bed. Shes a Greek registered bulk freighter of 14,000 tons and lies on a limestone sea bed on her port side. Portland Harbour is home to several sites for wreck-dives, and STUART PHILPOTT never tires of exploring one of the most popular. Hood was placed into reserve at Devonport on 3 January 1905, where she remained until February 1907. Located as it is inside the breakwater, the wreck is well-protected from wind and waves. [8], The ship was powered by two 3-cylinder vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one propeller. [84] A number of pillboxes were built around East Weare Battery. [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. The port also sees various cruise ship calls bringing visitors to the Dorset area. [2] It consists of four breakwaters two southern and two northern. Portland offers one of the best shore on the South Coast with Chesil Cove being the highlight for many pleasurable scenic dives full of marine life. FREE FRENCH SUBMARINE (MINERVA) ASHORE AT PORTLAND IN 1945 WHEN IT BROKE ITS TOW LINE. She stands 6 metres high in some places. [37] From 1958, the base's main occupation was Flag Officer Sea Training, which was a major success, and the harbour soon became the world's premier work-up and training base. The Britannia Cruise Terminal, which was opened in July 1999 and again refurbished in 2005 has seen the likes of Royal Caribbean, Azamara, Club Cruises, Saga and Crystal Cruises use it as a start point for excursions in the wider Dorset region and beyond. Declared a total loss in April 1945. This 600 ton British steamship was sunk by a torpedo in 1918 while carrying a cargo of coal. However, the area is notoriously dangerous, with areas such as Portland Race and The Shambles requiring sailors to be wary due to strong tides and rocky shores. In April 2000 the contract was signed for a new bunkering jetty and berth, which came into service in 2005. Her crew numbered 690 officers and ratings. [40], The Harbour is the fourth largest as of 2016[update] human-made port in the world, after the Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, the Ras Laffan Harbour in Qatar and the Cherbourg Harbour in France. The areas most popular drift dive which offers plenty of activities for divers at all levels, including scalloping and sea life identification. This 1120 ton Norwegian cargo vessel was torpedoed and sunk in March 1919. Portland Harbour She is approximately 240 long and with a 29 beam she lies upright on the bottom making an excellent dive for novice and experienced alike. British steamship, torpedoed and sunk July 1917, fifteen miles SW of Portland Bill. [8] During 1848, HM Prison Portland was established to provide convict labour to quarry the stone needed to construct the breakwaters and the harbour defences. Other causes of shipwrecks include mechanical failure and rough coastal weather on unforgiving rocky shores. The tidal flow is limited to three areas through the breakwaters and at Ferrybridge where the harbour links to the Fleet. Repairs took only two days, and the ship left Sheerness for the Mediterranean on 18 June 1893. The seabed is made out of shifting gravel and parts of the wreck stand 7 metres high. Apart from the usual freshwater, fuel, shore power and pump-out facilities the marina also has a bar/restaurant, 15 retail/business units and 5 larger commercial units. Each gun was provided with 80 shells. She collided with a Norwegian ship in 1889 and sank, now lying on a sand and shingle seabed. [35] The remaining two units now act as a wind-break, helping ships berth at Queen's Pier in the harbour. [12] Below the eastern side of the citadel, East Weare Battery was built during the 1860s, along with the detention barracks East Weare Camp. [40] In 1984, two large accommodation blocks, totalling 25-30 million, were built in Castletown as barracks for Royal Navy personnel, along with a sports centre. This area is marked with the large yellow buoys after the Hood entrance to the harbour and has a maximum depth of about 25 metres with a straight bottom layout. One vessel which experienced more than her fair share of bad luck was the Preveza. It is badly broken up with large pieces of machinery present and lying in a rock shingle sea bed. The harbour had already been used by ships for centuries when, in the 16th century, King Henry VIII built Portland Castle and Sandsfoot Castle to defend the anchorage. MYRTLEDENE RAN ASHORE ON MARCH 25TH 1912 THIS SHIP WAS OFFERED FOR SALE WITH ITS CARGO OF IRON ORE FOR 100, BUT NEVER SOLD. [24] Onshore amenities included a range of storehouses, workshops and office buildings. This German submarine sank in May 1918. [25], The Ministry of Defence continued to invest in HMNB Portland until the late 1980s; however in 1991 the closure was announced of both the naval base and the research establishments on Portland as part of defence spending cuts following the end of the Cold War. The Royal Yachting Association had expressed interest in securing a suitable site locally for a number of decades, in order to make use of the harbour's natural advantages. Formerly the Marie this iron wreck ship was sunk by a German submarine in May 1917. The arm is known as the Bincleaves Groyne. 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. Project Baseline is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 88-0481587) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. read more Shore Diving Portland offers one of the best shore on the South Coast with Chesil Cove being the highlight for many pleasurable scenic dives full of marine life. This article is about the harbour in England. WebFate: Sunk 04 November 1914 as a blockship for southern entrance to Portland Harbour, designed to stop U-boats entering or firing torpedoes into Channel Fleet anchorage. The Verne Citadel, designed by Captain Crosman R.E., was built at Verne Hill between 1860-81: the 56 acre fortress was designed for 1000 troops and had gun emplacements facing seawards on three sides. to Lyme Bay and further out in the English Channel. Unfortunately, conditions worsened quickly and the vessel was caught in a major storm with strong winds, high seas, and snow-impaired visibility. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. She was built in the early 1880s and the conversion took place 1889. Both of these wrecks lie in very close proximity and make an excellent double-wreck dive by starting off at the Landing Craft, following a line laid by local dive operators to the Bombardon Unit and returning back to entry point or surfacing on an SMB (please consult the skipper on what method is preferred for the dive). There are dozens of popular recreational dive sites accessible from Portlandand literally hundreds of wrecks around the island as well as in the Channel. Seven months later, on 12 December 1900, Hood recommissioned to relieve the elderly ironclad Thunderer as port guard ship at Pembroke Dock. This 380 battleship is upside down (turtle) and can be a very interesting dive. This facility was open by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in April 2009 and is situated directly adjacent to the National Sailing Academy. Royal Sovereign-class battleship of the Royal Navy scuttled in Portland Harbour, Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1902, Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in November 1914, Modern naval gun turrets are essentially a barbette enclosed by a rotating gunhouse, a very different concept from the older style of turret that, The completely enclosed armoured shields around the turrets were known as barbettes for some years after their introduction, but they werent barbettes as we know them today, "Conserved HMS Hood Bell Rings Out 75th Anniversary of Largest Ever Royal Navy Loss", List of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy, Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, Bullhead Point Historical and Archeological District, Maritime Heritage Trail Battle of Saipan, List of shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001905545/, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Hood_(1891)&oldid=1148381342, Victorian-era battleships of the United Kingdom, World War I shipwrecks in the English Channel, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 April 2023, at 20:57. At the Breakwater Fort is a World War II 29 millimetre spigot mortar emplacement,[62] a pillbox,[63] and a battery observation post. [41] In 1959, RNAS Portland was officially established as part of HMS Osprey,[41] further land having been reclaimed from the Mere the previous year to serve as a runway and landing area, and the old canteen building having been adapted to serve as a combined headquarters and control tower. [39] At the time, the Dockyard employed 'some 1,600 industrial and non-industrial staff'. [86] In addition to this a World War II pillbox, with a possible machine gun post, is located at Upper Osprey. [73] On the far end of the North Eastern Breakwater, on the Weymouth side, is the site of B Pier Head Battery. PORTLAND HARBOUR WRECKS [11], The initial southern breakwaters were built between 1849 and 1872; meanwhile, various defences were created to defend the harbour. 35-40m RANGE: Pomeranian, Moidart, Ailsa Craig, Arfon, Frognor, P555, UB74. Torch Recommended. There are large chains on her. Her waterline main belt ranged in thickness between 14 to 18 inches (356 to 457mm) thick. Portland Harbour Portland [19] Subsequently, she was photographed in dry dock at Portsmouth by the crew of Naval Airship No. Depending on the tide, divers can get a good drift dive in this area. She finished her sea trials in May 1893[14] and was commissioned on 1 June 1893 at the cost of 926,396. This was intended to allow them to reach a speed of 17.5 knots (32.4km/h; 20.1mph). 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. [14], On 25 June 1903 Hood relieved the battleship Collingwood in the Home Fleet. This is the areas most interesting and colourful shore dive but is tide dependent. Inshore wrecks [25] The nearby Royal Naval Hospital in Castletown served the naval base from 1904 (replacing an earlier small hospital) until 1957, when it was handed over to the NHS. The Countess has three holds that are open on either side, a number of attractions from a large rudder to ladders and even a toilet bowl! CARGO GRAIN. The King, Prime Minister Churchill and Free French leader Gen. de Gaulle came to see the great D-Day preparations at Portland when the harbour's activity was continuous. Frequent visitor John Liddiard reveals his route. This 1300 ton armed merchant steamship was torpedoed by a German U boat and sank in 1918 while carrying railway lines. WebPortland harbour wrecks accessible by boat only. WebStrong ebb currents pushing against the opposing forces of the ocean can build enormous swells in a very short time, threatening to overcome unprepared ships crossing the river bars. Construction of the harbour began in 1849; when completed in 1872, its 520-hectare (1,300-acre) surface area made it the largest human-made harbour in the world,[1] and remains one of the largest in the world today. GT 213. [50], East Weare Battery was built in the 1860s to protect the harbour. However, the area is notoriously dangerous, with areas such as Portland Race and The Shambles requiring sailors to be wary due to strong tides and rocky shores. [6] There was opposition against the closure from the local economy, as well as all ranks of naval personnel, who felt Portland's surrounding coast was perfect for exercising ships. 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. She lies upright. the ss bournemouth wrecked on rocks near portland bill 1886. all 160 passengers were rescued. Offshore wrecks Following the end of the war, Portland's role in the liberation of Europe was marked by a ceremony in August 1945, when the American Ambassador John D. Winant unveiled a stone in Victoria Gardens commemorating the passing by the spot of 418,585 troops and 144,093 vehicles the previous June.
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