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Type: Converted Tanker
Picture:
Wreck Information: On the 27th July 1940 the SS Salvestria, carrying Fuel Oil from Aruba to Grangemouth under the Command of Captain J C Jamieson, was approaching Inchkeith Island when she activated an Acoustic Mine, she sank with the loss of 10 men, Captain Jameson was among the survivors. The Salvestria was a Salveson Factory Whaling Ship, converted into a tanker to carry Fuel Oil during the war, she had a long and interesting history. Originally named CARDIGANSHIRE she was built in 1913 by Workman, Clark & Co. at Belfast with a tonnage of 9426grt, a length of 520ft, a beam of 62ft 5in and a service speed of 14 knots. She was launched for Royal Mail but allocated to the Shire Lines for the Far East run and was the largest and fastest ship on that route. In September 1914 she was used to ferry units of the British Expeditionary Forces across the Channel and in February 1915 was taken over by the Admiralty for a voyage to Zeebruge with troops and war supplies. As the ship approached Zeebruge the Belgian pilot ordered full speed ahead and steered her into the mole causing damage to the bow. The pilot was subsequently arrested, investigated and shot for sabotage. In April 1915 she participated in the Dardanelles campaign. She was chased by a submarine in the Mediterranean on 14th January 1917 and later that year crossed the Atlantic and brought US troops to Britain . In May 1929 she was sold to Christian Salvesen's South Georgia Co. and converted into a Whaling Factory Ship with a stern ramp and then named Salvestria. After conversion she was reported to be 11938 grt, 150m in length with a beam of 19m.
The mine which sank her was reported to be an Acoustic Mine, this could have been laid by either a U-Boat or dropped by an Aircraft. I have searched the Records but can find nothing to indicate that the mine was laid by a U-Boat, at this stage in the War, accessing this far up the Forth was probably becoming dangerous, Kreigsmarine War Records indicate all U-Boats at sea around this time were operating against Convoys, mainly in the Atlantic. Records from the RAF indicate that around the 25th July 1940 the Luftwaffe were actively mining the Forth and the Tyne, so this seems the most likely way the mine was laid.
The Dive
When the Wreck was surveyed in 1950 the least depth was 14.6m, which means she was standing 10m off the bottom. On the 30th of June 1971 Salvage Operations were carried out by divers over that summer. Salvage Operations by Divers started again for 3 months from 19 July 1972 using a 46foot Fishing vessel as a Dive Platform. Rumour has it that this salvage was being done by local Divers and that the wreck was blown apart, probably using too much explosives, destroying most of the Ship. When surveyed again in 1976 it was found that large pieces of debris were scattered over a wide area, when dived in 1984 Divers reported mainly collapsed and flattened plates.
I have spoken to Divers who have told me that there are still substantial pieces of Hull standing 3m high, and that wreckage is scattered over an area the size of two Football pitches. When we verified the position recently the Sounder showed some large wreckage, which looks like the hull still intact, with hits over a large area. This site is very popular with Local Fisherman with lots of fish and life reported on the site, so obviously hazards will be fishing line on the site.
Harbour / slip: Burntisland, Kirkcaldy, Granton, North and South Queensferry
Parking directions:
Distance from harbour: Burntisland - 5 Miles , Kirkcaldy - 3.3 Miles , South Queensferry 11.3 Miles
Lat & Long: N56 4.05 W03 4.78 WGS84 Inchkeith in the Firth of Forth
Chart: Imray Forth
Depth: 25m
Tides: Tide tables Slack water is roughly 60 mins +/- of high water and 60 mins +/- of low water
Diveboat: Divebunker Divesafariscotland Marinequest
Dive Shop: Splash Sports Dundee Edinburgh dive centre FYM
Accommodation:
Suggested experience: Sports Diver
Other comments: Transits are:-
1) North tip of Inchkeith in line with the centre lighthouse, gasholder and Granton.
2) The centre of 3 lights on coloured tower blocks of flats, in Kirkcaldy in transit with West Lomond .
3) Fidra Light open to right of Bass Rock by same distance as the sea level to the top of Fidra Light.
Created by: Stevie Adams SQSAC
Date: 31/10/0 7
Thanks To:
Underwater photos: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Wreck diagram: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Dive reports: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it