Strangford Lough Wreck List
©
Back to Main Index Map

 
 
 
 
Vessel Type:

American Troopship

Location:Co. Down
Date of Loss:30th April 1946Place:Killard Point, Ballyhornan
Cause of Loss:Ran ashoreBoat Dive from:Portaferry
Charted Depth:12mIrish O.S. Map:Discovery Series No. 21
Height of Wreck:3mAdmiralty Chart No:2156
Hull Material:SteelLatitude (approx.):54° 18' 45" North
Type of Seabed:Sand and rocksLongitude (approx.):05° 31' 15" West
Average Visibility:5 - 10mConvert Lat. & Long. to -Decimal - CLICK HERE
Image available?Yes -see below Diving Experience:Novice
 
Diving Information:     
  • The wreck is split into sections.
  • Dive at slack water, preferably Slack High.
  • Low Water makes it difficult to get the boat out if launching from Ballyhornan beach.
  • Better to launch from Portaferry or Strangford slip, although it means a longer boat journey, but less hassle.
 
Historical Information:
  • Built as a Victory Class Troopship in 1945 at Fortfield Shipyard, Bethlehem, U.S., and registered at Baltimore, the "Georgetown" had left Fremantle for Glasgow with 1,200 Royal Navy men and Marines due for demob.
  • The trip initially started from Sydney, Australia. Inexplicably she mistook Strangford Lough for the Clyde.
  • She grounded about 100yds south of Killard Point, and her back broke just forward of the bridge within a few hours of stranding.
  • Measured :- 437 x 62 x 34ft and weighed 7,406 gross tons, and powered by twin steam turbine engines.
  • Formerly owned by U.S. War Shipping Administration she is now owned and salvaged by Karl Bialowas.
 

S.S. Georgetown Victory

Via internet - source unknown


S.S. Georgetown Victory

© Sandy Roberts - by permission


S.S. Georgetown Victory

© by kind permission of Dr. Edward J. Bourke

Source Publications:
"Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam 1824 - 1962"
by
Charles Hocking
London Stamp Exchange 1989 - ISBN: 0948130474
"Irish Wrecks Database"
by
Roy Stokes & Liam Dowling
"Shipwreck Index of Ireland"
by
Richard & Bridget Larn
Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ltd 2002 - ISBN: 1900839970
"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 932 - 1997"
by
Dr. Edward J. Bourke
Edward J. Bourke 1998 - ISBN: 0952302713
"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 1582 - 2000"
by
Dr. Edward J. Bourke
Edward J. Bourke 2000 - ISBN: 0952302721
"Shipwrecks of the Ulster Coast"
by
Ian Wilson
Impact Printing 1997 - ISBN: 0948154993
 
Other Sources:
Randal Armstrong
-
Castlereagh SAC (1980)
-
via Eddie Matchett, Lisburn SAC (2008)

Strangford Lough Wreck List

Last update - 02-Jun-2008

Back to Main Index Map

A page from "www.irishwrecksonline.net" ©