Irish Wrecks On-Line - Saint Barchan SS (No. 680)

*Vessel Type:*	Steamer	*Location:*	Co. Down
*Date of Loss:*	21st October 1918	*Place:*	St. John's Point
*Cause of Loss:*	Torpedoed	*Boat Dive from:*	Portaferry, Strangford or Ardglass
*Charted Depth:*	30m	*Irish O.S. Map:*	Discovery Series No. 21
*Height of Wreck:*	2m	*Admiralty Chart No:*	2093
*Hull Material:*	Steel	*Latitude (approx.):*	54° 14' 50" North
*Type of Seabed:*	Sand	*Longitude (approx.):*	05° 31' 63" West
*Average Visibility:*	6 - 10m	*Convert Lat. & Long.* to -	Decimal - CLICK HERE
No image available.		*Diving Experience:*	Very Experienced

Diving Information:

Lies 4 miles off St. John's Point.
Extensive damage to superstructure from torpedo attack.
Stern blown off and probably further from wreck.
Bow section and boiler highest point.
Can be dived anytime as there is very little tide.
For best viz. dive after the wind has been in the North-West for several days.
Warning!! Some parts of the wreck are covered with nets.

Historical Information:

Owned by J.& A. Gardener Ltd., Glasgow, built 1917 by Scott & Sons, she measured 141.8 x 23.8 x 10.1ft., and grossed 362 tons.
Powered by triple-expansion engines, generating 47rhp, speed 8 knots.
On 5th April 1918, she survived a torpedo attack when the torpedo missed, but on the 21st October 1918 she didn't escape.
She sank 4 miles off St. John’s Point. Eight crew died in the attack.
It was UB-94 that finally sunk her, commanded by Lt. Cdr. Haumann.
She was the last merchant vessel to be lost in home waters as the War was over three weeks later.

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:

Michael Hamilton

Castlereagh SAC (1997)

Last update - 18-Jan-2005