Maritime record MWX2419 - Excelsior (Pipe Wreck)

Propulsion: Screw driven, 3 cylinder triple expansion engine (1) Wreck lies in a general depth of 18m, after foundering due to a leak. Least depth over wreck is 15.6m. (2) Source (2) gives vessel type as fishing drifter, but the vessel was apparently in use as a cargo vessel. Position 50 38 30N 001 43 00W, 5 miles west of Needles Point.(1) 20-AUG-1925: Nothing found during sweeping ops in vicinity of wrecks reported position.(1) 28-SEP-1981: Wreck located in 50 40 29N 001 44 52.5W during basic sounding, not further examined. Least echo sounder depth obtained 15.6 in general depth 18m. (1) Additional source: LL.08.09.1924

Position 50 40.41N 1 44.80W taken from (4)

Wreck site and archaeological remains:

Horizontal Datum: OGB
Quality of Depth: ES
Method of Fix: EDM
General Depth: 18m
(1)

Wreck lies in a general depth of 18m, after foundering due to a leak. Least depth over wreck is 15.6m. (2)

Position 50 38 30N 001 43 00W, 5 miles west of Needles Point.(1)

20-AUG-1925: Nothing found during sweeping ops in vicinity of wreck's reported position.(1)

28-SEP-1981: Wreck located in 50 40 29N 001 44 52.5W during basic sounding, not further examined. Least echo sounder depth obtained 15.6 in general depth 18m. (1)

'There is no information as to whether the EXELSIOR has been located and identified. A search around a position provided by the Hydrographic Office revealed an isolated rock patch which had the appearance of wreckage and though there were readings on the magnetometer, no wreck has been found. (5)

28-APR-2005: Unable to locate wreck. The seabed is rock. There is an isolated rock patch which had the appearance of wreckage. Although there was a magnetic anomaly, no wreck was found.

27-JAN-2012: Examined in 5040.500N, 0144.950W [WGD]. The least multibeam depth was 17.65m in a general depth of 18.6m. The least W/C depth was 17.08m. Scour 0.6m deep, extending for 15m to the north. Length 45m. Width 15m. Height 0.6m. No magnetic anomaly. Linear debris mound with sediment accumulated on south side, and a scour to the north.

Charted by the UKHO as 'EXCELSIOR (POSSIBLY)' in 50 40.500N, 002 44.950W (WGS84). (6)(7)

Wreck event and documentary evidence:

Source (2) gives vessel type as fishing drifter, but the vessel was apparently in use as a cargo vessel.

Reported to have sprung a leak and foundered 5 miles west of the Needles lighthouse, while en route from Portsmouth for Newport with a cargo of scrap iron. The crew were rescued and landed at Keyhaven. (5)

Built: 1904 (5)
Builder: John Chambers (5)
Where built: Lowestoft (5)
Propulsion: Screw driven, 3 cylinder triple expansion engine (2) Compound, 2 cylinders (5)
Boilers: 1 (5)
NHP: 15 (5)
Machinery: Elliot & Garrod, Beccles (5)
Owners: A. J. Blaker, Southwick (5)

Date of loss qualifier: Actual date of loss

Additional source:
LL.08.09.1924

<1> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1992, Hydrographic Office wreck index (Index). SWX4837.

<2> Larn, R, and Larn, B, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 1 : Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset Section 6, Dorset (AJ) Vol 1 (Monograph). SWX4541.

<3> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, Shipwreck 139 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<4> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1999, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (3rd Edition) (Monograph). SWX1.

<5> Wendes, D, 2006, South Coast Shipwrecks off East Dorset & Wight 1870 - 1979 (Monograph). SDO10496.

<6> SeaZone Hydrospatial, Digital marine geographic information derived from SeaZone Hydrospatial, 27-Mar-17 (Digital archive). SDO20540.

<7> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Wreck report, 19035 (Monograph). SDO20514.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 904676 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 20 2024 2:08PM