[65][66], On the northeast breakwater, at the southern end, directly opposite the fort, is the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse. In September 1910 Hood recommissioned to serve as flagship of the Senior Naval Officer, Coast of Ireland Station, while continuing as a receiving ship. Despite her 1914 scuttling, the Royal Navy included Hood on its sale list in both 1916 and 1917. a naturalist trail beside the rocks it rests against. It is generally accepted that she sunk after diving with the hangar doors open (as they are today). 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. 35-40m RANGE: Pomeranian, Moidart, Ailsa Craig, Arfon, Frognor, P555, UB74. [31] In July 1940, the anti-aircraft ship HMS Foylebank was attacked by Stuka dive-bombers and sank in the harbour. 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. [54] It is Grade II Listed. This facility was open by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in April 2009 and is situated directly adjacent to the National Sailing Academy. Dive Sites - Underwater Explorers Below the armoured deck their armour was reduced to 11 inches (279mm). bournemouth. she became a total loss. +44(0)1305824555info@underwaterexplorers.co.uk VIDEOS ABOUT US | CONTACT HOME BLOG SALES In-store Sales Our Brands Santi Diving Go Shop online Online On descending, follow the wall down until you reach the gravel and sandy bottom at about 18 metres. Portland Harbour Wrecks 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. This is on the outside of the breakwater and just around the corner from the Fort. 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. Project Baseline is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 88-0481587) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Shes a Greek registered bulk freighter of 14,000 tons and lies on a limestone sea bed on her port side. PORTLAND HARBOUR WRECKS A Swedish steamship which sank off the Cave Hole on Portland in 1882. 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. A fine modern and recent wreck lying off St Albans Head. A 4343 steamer she was sunk in July 1940 by a German E-boat. [37] Within the same statement Sheerness Dockyard and a number of other naval establishments were also slated for closure. The wreck's hull structure remains largely in tact and makes her one of [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. [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. Wreck SHE BECAME A TOTAL LOSS. It was put into operation again during World War II. she became a total loss. The academy was established as a not-for-profit company in 1999, and originally operated from various disused military buildings and facilities. Dropping off a boat to the left of the Hood exit from Portland harbour in outgoing tide will carry divers across a seabed scattered with shells, crabs and during the summer months much exotic sea life including a variety of nudibranches. WebA significant number of UB-40s sinkings were in Dorset waters, including the LH Carl, sunk on the same day. 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]. The second of only two Victoria Crosses awarded for action in the United Kingdom was posthumously bestowed on Jack Foreman Mantle, who died at his post on the ship. She stands 8 metres high in some places. [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. Enecuri | The Spaniard? The 728 ton wreck is well broken and is believed to be well salvaged. 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. WRECK OF PATRIA 1903. [49] At the south-west end of Prince Consort Walk is a carved commemorative stone for the completion of the breakwaters in 1872. Low freeboard had been popular for around ten years since it required less armour and made a smaller target for gunfire to hit, although it had the disadvantage that it reduced seaworthiness. A NORWEGIAN BARQUE (GRIMSTAD) GT 607. 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. HISTORY. a detailed report on this accident can be read by clicking here. PORTLAND, Ore. A driver died after crashing on NE Marine Drive early Monday morning, according to Portland police. Nearly 400 souls were lost on her. Weymouth and Portland Her waterline main belt ranged in thickness between 14 to 18 inches (356 to 457mm) thick. Offshore wrecks Portland Harbor Dive time for this area is 4 hours after HW and the dive window is about 45 minutes. [36], Having suffered bomb damage, the ARDU had transferred out to Fairlie for the duration of the war. Topedoed by a German sub in December 1944, towed into Worbarrow and beached. The stern is complete and amidship there is an engine and boiler. The wreck is well scattered with intact bows. From there you can either follow the line or the breakwater wall (keeping at your left) to the Bombardon Unit. Partly salvaged, lies on a sand sea bed. A number of wrecks lie both inside and immediately outside the breakwater walls attracting hundreds of divers every year. In October 2007 work commenced on a new marina and recreational boating facility. 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. Please click here to go to the Home page and here to go to the Navigation page, Please click on the name of a ship to see pictures of that shipwreck. Depending on the tide, divers can get a good drift dive in this area. The arm is known as the Bincleaves Groyne. Declared a total loss in April 1945. [59][60] The shed has been Grade II Listed since 2001. The exhibit explores efforts to prevent disaster through the development of lighthouses and other aids to navigation. Portland Harbor [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. Portland Harbour VII gun. The Portland Harbour Revision Order 2010 provides for the creation of new berths and hardstand areas at the port in order to allow increased commercial activities over the next 50 years. Features include an easily Harbour Wrecks She measures 260 and lies on her port side standing 5 to 6 metres in places. 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. 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. [76], The Weymouth end breakwater features the C Pier Head Battery on the southern tip. Maximum depth is about 6 to 7 metres depending on the state of the tide. [25], Support facilities for the fleet were also added over time, including a canteen and recreation ground. In April 2000 the contract was signed for a new bunkering jetty and berth, which came into service in 2005. There is some sea life amid the large rocks. Two days before the exercises ended, Hood damaged her rudder on the seabed while leaving Argostoli Harbor on 4 October 1902. ALL 160 PASSENGERS WERE RESCUED. The heavy, old-fashioned type of turrets added to the amount of weight high up in the ship compared to barbettes and decreased the ship's stability. MADELAINE (MAGDALENE) TRISTAN BEACHED AT CHESIL COVE SEPTEMBER 1930 FRENCH SCHOONER OF LORIENT. She also was fitted with a plough-shaped underwater ram. [15] On Weymouth's side of the harbour, the Nothe Fort was built at the end of the Nothe Peninsula, and completed in 1872. [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. WebIn total, 418,585 troops and 144,093 vehicles would embark from Portland and Weymouth Harbours. The ship carried 200 rounds for each gun. MYRTLEDENE RAN ASHORE ON MARCH 25TH 1912 THIS SHIP WAS OFFERED FOR SALE WITH ITS CARGO OF IRON ORE FOR 100, BUT NEVER SOLD. WebDONATE. [6], Portland Port Group became Statutory Harbour Authority for Portland Harbour on 1 January 1998, replacing the Queen's Harbour Master. This 1300 ton armed merchant steamship was torpedoed by a German U boat and sank in 1918 while carrying railway lines. 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. This 1274 British armed steamship measures 230 by 34 and was torbedoed and sunk by a German submarine in October 1917. to British and foreign naval vessels. [29], In 1917 the RNAS seaplane base at Portland was commissioned as HMS Sarepta. There are dozens of popular recreational dive sites accessible from Portlandand literally hundreds of wrecks around the island as well as in the Channel. 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. Her highest point is 7 metres above the seabed. Her highest point is at 47 metres and she is reported to be lying upside down against a high reef. The wreck's hull structure remains largely in tact and makes her one of Stands 4 to 5 metres high in some points. bournemouth. Boats shuttle out and in for harbour dives allowing you to rest, de-gas and fill up in between dives. [4], Coaling facilities were initially integrated into the design of the inner breakwater. 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. This site is right inside of the harbour close to the Hood entrance and can offer a good drift dive at certain times of tide. This WWII destroyer is a war grave and was lost to German aircraft torpedo attack in June 1944 with 150 souls on board. These wrecks are accessible? 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. Like her sisters, the ship was fitted with seven 18-inch torpedo tubes. Sunk in December 1944. [19], The ship's bell was later used as one of at least two bells [23] on the battlecruiser HMSHood. THE WRECK WHICH WAS SOLD FOR 1. This 80 MFV was last heard of in 1974 and all crew were lost. King George V watched aerial displays from the royal yacht in the harbour in May 1912. This is on the outside of the breakwater and just around the corner from the Fort. JAMES FENNELL SS. Located as it is inside the breakwater, the wreck is well-protected from wind and waves. It is an interesting, but silty, dive and offers an underwater platform for training activities. While anchored in Portland harbour she was struck in June 1940 by bombs dropped from a German aircraft and sank there. 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. The stern is complete and amidship there is an engine and boiler. a detailed report on this accident can be read by clicking here. The battery was decommissioned in 1934. [78] On site is a World War II 29 millimetre spigot mortar emplacement.[79][80]. Two of these were mounted in the bow below the waterline, four were placed in the sides of the hull, two on each broadside, and one in the stern. Portland 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. From scenic shore dives to passenger liners and U-Boatslying on the seabed theres a dive for every level of experience. There are large chains on her. [10], Defence against torpedo boats was provided by eight QF 6-pounder guns, although the exact type of gun is not known. THE ROCKET LINE ENABLED RESCUE OF CREW BUT THE 2ND MATE HAD A LEG AMPUTATED AND THE COOK WENT MAD AND HAD TO BE CONSTRAINED. 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. 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. [45] The harbour is designated as EU shellfish water and supports an important shellfish fishery and a marine ecosystem of high importance for biodiversity. [15] In 1897 and 1898, the ship served as part of the International Squadron, a multinational force made up of ships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, French Navy, Imperial German Navy, Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina), Imperial Russian Navy, and Royal Navy that intervened in the 1897-1898 Greek uprising on Crete. Commercial activities on the water include specialist diving services for vessels and repairs & maintenance as well as a bunkering (fuelling) station. Although mortally wounded he continued to fire his gun against the attackers until he died. This was seen as a vindication of the barbette/high-freeboard design in the rest of her class, and all subsequent British battleship classes had high freeboard. Portland Port Ltd, formed in December 1994, took possession of the site immediately and their purchase was completed on 12 December 1996. Her wreck became known as "Old Hole in the Wall". A FEW DAYS LATER, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO TOW HER OFF THE ROCKS BUT SHE SANK IMMEDIATELY. [14], The ship rejoined the Mediterranean Fleet at the end of 1901, and Captain Robert Lowry was appointed in command on 1 May 1902. TRIPLE-EXPANSION ENGINE. As planned, Portland's Royal Dockyard closed in 1959, but the Naval Base remained open 'in support of the local establishments and H.M. ships using the harbour'. by (club) or (commercial) dive boats with launching possible from various points including Portland Marina and a free slipway at Castletown.? Unfortunately, conditions worsened quickly and the vessel was caught in a major storm with strong winds, high seas, and snow-impaired visibility. 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. 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. 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. A small Admirality trawler only 123 long that went aground on Blacknor Point in March 1920 in thick fog, slid off and sank there. It is believed there have been at least 1,000 shipwrecks along the Dorset coast over the centuries. A new coaling pier was built between 1890 and 1896, and expanded coaling facilities were still being added in 1906. 40-60m RANGE: Salsette, Buccaneer, Merchant Royal, Warrior 2. [4] During the 20th century the harbour increasingly became an naval oiling depot and, beginning in the early 1900s, the tidal creek the Mere began to be filled in for a vast tank farm. Ideal for individuals, buddy pairs, groups and schools, Dive Beyond is based at the back of Hotel Aqua and adjacent to a Council car park which makes the trip even more convenient. The Dredger lies right outside of Portland Harbour within the sheltered bay of Balaclava (in front of the large winch). 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. Depending on the tide, divers can get a good drift dive in this area. Weymouth and Portland WebHarbour Wrecks 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. The coastal battery opened in 1901 and was armed with two 12-pounder quick-firing (QF) guns for anti-torpedo craft defence. However at 03:45 on the 4 th November 1979 she took on too much water and sank 5 miles south of St Aldhelm's Head, still 12 miles from the safety of Portland. Hood's secondary armament consisted of ten 40-calibre 6-inch Mk I-III guns mounted in casemates in the superstructure. She measures 240 by 32. The wreck's hull structure remains largely in tact and makes her one of 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. Features include an easily MARBELLA TO ROTTERDAM. Portland bournemouth. The liberation of Europe in 1945 was marked by a local ceremony in August that year, with the American Ambassador John D. Winant unveiling a stone in Victoria Gardens commemorating the harbour's efforts. 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. Harbour Wrecks Repairs took only two days, and the ship left Sheerness for the Mediterranean on 18 June 1893. Portland Harbour is home to several sites for wreck-dives, and STUART PHILPOTT never tires of exploring one of the most popular. Bottlebank Drift (19m). Hood also mounted a dozen QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns mounted in the superstructure and fighting tops. Other causes of shipwrecks include mechanical failure and rough coastal weather on unforgiving rocky shores. 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. HISTORY. 215 TONS, 123X22FT. By 1913 the battery's armament included four 12-pounder guns and a 6-inch breech-loading (BL) Mk. [64] Further along the same arm, towards Portland, are two World War II coast artillery searchlights. 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. Be careful in poor visibility as it is easy to find oneself in the wreck without even knowing it!