Alex Van Opstal Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Alex van opstal Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		50 32.487 N,2 16.152 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 50.541450
  • Longitude: -2.269200
Wreck Depth 21.5 m
Water Depth 28 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name ALEX VAN OPSTAL
Type merchant vessel
Flag BE
Length 128 m
Width 17.4 m
Draught 7.9
Sonar Length 141.3
Sonar Width 24.9
Shadow Height 5.99
Orientation 170
Tonnage 5965
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo general and mixed goods
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Sep 15, 1939
Bottom Texture Shells
Original Detection Year 1939
Last Detection Year 2020
Original Source ship visit/hydrographic note report
Surveying Details H6772/39 25.9.39 WK LOCATED 059DEGS, 2.9M FROM SHAMBLES LTV. MARKED BY G CONL BUOY. (KHM PORTLAND, HN 19.9.39). GIVES POSN 503226N, 021601W. - FNM 2135/39 & FNM 2152/39. H6772/39 22.4.40 DW IN 503226N, 021601W. (ADMIRALTY). - NM 1006/40. H6772/39 19.8.40 BUOY MISSING. WILL NOT BE REPLACED. (KHM PORTLAND, HN 7.8.40). - NM 2074/40. 1945 SONAR CONTACT IN VICINITY OF 503200N, 021600W. (AUBD 304/111). NCA. H6772/39 26.11.45 LEAST DEPTH OVER WK, 4FMS 2FT, IN 503226N, 021600W. (HMS FRANKLIN). - NM 3874/45. H6772/39 28.1.46 G CAN BUOY, GPFL(2)G.10S, LAID 180DEGS, 1C FROM WK. (C-IN-C PORTSMOUTH). - NM 305/46. H6772/39 7.3.47 LEAST DEPTH OVER WK NOW 8FMS. BUOY WITHDRAWN. (SURVEYING OFFICER, HMS VERNON & TRINITY HOUSE). - NM 592/47. H6772/39 14.9.49 EXAM'D 16.8.49 AFTER DISPERSAL OPS. SWEPT CLEAR 48, FOUL 49FT. LIES N/S, 077.5DEGS, 7.35M FROM PORTLAND BILL LT IN 15FMS. (SML 1301). - NM 1911/49. H1730/65 3.5.68 EXAM'D 1.8.67 IN 503226N, 021600W [OGB] USING HSA. SWEPT CLEAR AT 58, FOUL AT 59FT. LEAST E/S DEPTH 58 IN GEN DEPTH 90FT. SCOUR DEPTH 6FT. WK, ABOUT 500FT LONG, LIES 166/346DEGS, APPROX WITH THE HIGHEST PART ABOUT ONE THIRD OF LENGTH FROM S END. ANOTHER HIGH POINT - ONLY 1FT DEEPER (FMS) WAS FOUND NEAR THE N END. (FSL WATERWITCH, HI 28/67). CHART AS SW 9FMS 4FT [17.7MTRS] WITH SW 10FMS 4FT [19.5MTRS]. LC 2610. 12.1.82 STANDS 5.5MTRS HIGH IN GEN DEPTH 27-30MTRS IN 503236N, 021600W [OGB]. HAS BROKEN STERN. REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SOLD TO WESTERN MARINE SERVICES. (BSAC WK REGISER. VOL.4). NCA. HH090/530/01 14.1.93 EXAM'D 29.5.92 IN 503226.5N, 021551.8W [OGB] USING TRISPONDER. LEAST E/S DEPTH 20.2 IN GEN DEPTH 28MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 1MTR. DCS3 HT 7MTRS. LARGE WK, WELL BROKEN, LYING 160/340DEGS APPROX. RECOMMEND RETAIN CHARTED SWEPT DEPTH. (HMS GLEANER, HI 530). AMEND POSN ONLY. BR STD. HH100/351/21 26.7.04 DIVED IN 5032.44N, 0216.02W [WGD]. STANDS 7MTRS HIGH BY DEPTH GAUGE. SCOUR 1MTR DEEP AT STERN. SEABED BROKEN SHELL. (G LOCKETT). NCA. HH091/217/01 - SEP 2009/000186628 22.6.09 EXAM'D 26.11.08 IN 5032.453N, 0216.138W [WGD] USING DGPS. LEAST M/B DEPTH 22.61 IN GEN DEPTH 28.6MTRS. LENGTH 141.3MTRS, WIDTH 24.9MTRS, HT 5.99MTRS. LIES 170/350 DEGS WITH BOWS N. BROKEN UP, LEAST DEPTH APPROX 1/3 OF LENGTH FROM STERN. (HMSML GLEANER, HI 1217A). AMEND WK 22.5MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. HH091/154/01 21.7.09 LOCATED 3.1.09 IN 5032.472N, 0216.137W [WGD] USING DGPS. LEAST M/B DEPTH 22.44 IN GEN DEPTH 27.7MTRS. NO SCOUR. LENGTH 145.5MTRS, WIDTH 72.33MTRS (SIC), HT 5.3MTRS. LIES 172/352 DEGS. STRONG MAGENTIC ANOMALY. (FUGRO OSAE, HI 1154). IN TWO PARTS. NCA. SEP2022/000287776 29.11.22 EXAM'D 2020 IN 5032.487N, 0216.152W [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 21.5MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 27MTRS. (UKHO, HI1667). AMEND WK 21.5MTRS.
Last Amended Date Nov 29, 2022

Circumstances of loss

BUILT IN 1937 BY NAKSKOV SKIBS A/S, NAKSKOV. OWNED AT THE TIME OF LOSS BY CIE MARITIME BELGE (LLOYD ROYAL) SOC ANON. PASSAGE NEW YORK FOR ANTWERP. STRUCK A MINE LAID BY U 6 AND SANK 5M E OF THE SHAMBLES LTV. NO LOSS OF LIFE. (DODS & SIBI).

General Comments

UK NM 239/23, COLLAPSED, BOWS N LYING ON PORT SIDE

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 50 32.487 N,2 16.152 W
Alex Van Opstal on Wreck Map Alex Van Opstal Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the ALEX VAN OPSTAL wreck located?

The ALEX VAN OPSTAL wreck is located at coordinates 50 32.487 N,2 16.152 W.

How deep is the ALEX VAN OPSTAL and where exactly is it located?

The ALEX VAN OPSTAL lies at a depth of about 21.5 meters and is located at coordinates 50 32.487 N,2 16.152 W.

How deep is the seabed around the ALEX VAN OPSTAL?

The seabed around the ALEX VAN OPSTAL lies at approximately 28 meters deep.

When did the ALEX VAN OPSTAL sink?

The ALEX VAN OPSTAL sank on Sep 15, 1939.

When was the wreck of the ALEX VAN OPSTAL discovered?

The wreck of the ALEX VAN OPSTAL was discovered in 1939.

What country did the ALEX VAN OPSTAL belong to?

The ALEX VAN OPSTAL belonged to BE.

What cargo was the ALEX VAN OPSTAL carrying?

The ALEX VAN OPSTAL was carrying general and mixed goods.

What was the tonnage of the ALEX VAN OPSTAL?

The ALEX VAN OPSTAL had a tonnage of 5965 tons.

What type of wreck is the ALEX VAN OPSTAL?

The ALEX VAN OPSTAL is classified as a merchant vessel.

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