Castilian Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Castilian Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		53 24.98 N,4 35.889 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 53.416333
  • Longitude: -4.598150
Wreck Depth 13.75 m
Water Depth 21 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name CASTILIAN
Type steam ship
Flag GB
Length 100.9 m
Width 14.3 m
Draught 7
Sonar Length 104.7
Sonar Width 26
Shadow Height 6.5
Orientation 179
Tonnage 3067
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo armament,non-ferrous elements and ores: unrefined and refined,ore
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Feb 12, 1943
Bottom Texture Rock
Original Detection Year 1943
Last Detection Year 2025
Original Source Lloyd's and Marine Underwriter's reports
Surveying Details H97/67 20.3.67 H97/67 20.3.67 REPORTED BY LLOYDS TO BE ON THE SKERRIES ROCK. (W E BUTLAND). 2.9.69 2.9.69 REPORTED IN 1945 TO BE BREAKING UP DUE TO WEATHER ACTION. (BOT WAR RISK, TELECON 2.9.69). 18.9.74 18.9.74 REPORTED TO PLYMOUTH CD TEAM AS CONTAINING EXPLOSIVES. (LT CDR WILSON, TELECON). H1285/75 5.8.75 H1285/75 5.8.75 REPD IN 532458N, 043547W WITH SOME LIVE SHELLS LYING AROUND. (A NEWTON, LTR DTD 9.7.75). H5249/76 30.4.81 H5249/76 30.4.81 REPD TO BE LYING UPSIDE DOWN, WITH BOWS TOWARDS CARMEL HEAD IN GEN DEPTH 75FT. STERN IN 110FT. WK HAS 3 LARGE VERTICAL CRACKS IN PORT SIDE & SOME OF FOR'D HULL PLATING MISSING. BOW IS BROKEN OPEN EXPOSING VARIOUS TYPES OF AMMUNITION. (W E BUTLAND, 8.4.81). H5249/76 23.7.81 H5249/76 23.7.81 SHOWN ON CHART CUTTING IN 532457N, 043546W APPROX. (W E BUTLAND). H1310/82/27 21.9.83 H1310/82/27 21.9.83 EXAM'D 31.8.82. LIES ON N SIDE OF EAST PLATTERS IN 532456N, 043548W. POSN BY DECCA. LEAST E/S DEPTH 20 IN GEN DEPTH 26MTRS. EXPLOSIVES IN UNSTABLE CONDITION ONBOARD. (R S BUFTON, 8.9.83). PLOTS VERY CLOSE TO THE PLATTERS. NCA. H5249/76 30.3.87 H5249/76 30.3.87 REQUEST FOR TEMPORARY MOORING TO BE ESTAB'D APRIL TO SEPT 1987 FOR USE BY FDT DATCHET, WHILE UNDERTAKING FULL CLEARANCE OF APPROX 10 TONS OF EXPLOSIVES ESTIMATED, IN SURVEY OF 1986, TO REMAIN IN WK. (DMS (NAVAL) 17/11/10, 20.2.87). NCA. 1.5.87 1.5.87 EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL HAS COMMENCED. (FO PLYMOUTH, SIGNAL DTD 30.4.87). H5249/76 24.6.87 H5249/76 24.6.87 3 CLASS 5 MOORING BUOYS TEMPORARILY LAID IN VICINITY OF THE EAST PLATTERS RK. (RNO & QHM PEMBROKE DOCK, HN 5.6.87). - TNM ACTION. HH212/420/04 28.4.95 HH212/420/04 28.4.95 URGENT REQUEST TO LAY TEMP MOORING FOR USE TO REMOVE ORDNANCE. (DMS(N), LTR DTD 27.3.95). NCA. HH212/420/04 2.7.96 HH212/420/04 2.7.96 TEMP MOORING TO BE LAID FOR ORDNANCE CLEARANCE. (SALVAGE & MOORING, LTR DTD 19.6.96). HH090/751/01 6.12.96 HH090/751/01 6.12.96 NOT LOCATED BY DCS3 AND E/S. TWO DIVER SEARCHES CONDUCTED IN SHORT SLACK WATER PERIODS. ONLY A NUMBER OF SMALLER PIECES OF DEBRIS WERE DISCOVERED LYING EITHER SIDE OF THE PLATTERS. REMAINS OF WK MAY WELL BE OBSCURED BY THE GENERAL BOTTOM RETURN. CONSIDER THAT WK MAY HAVE BROKEN UP SINCE LAST TIME IT WAS DIVED. (HMSML GLEANER, HI 751). NCA. HH212/420/11 11.2.05 HH212/420/11 11.2.05 AREA WITHIN 500MTRS RADIUS OF 5325.0107N, 0435.9176W [WGD] DECLARED A PROHIBITED AREA ON ACCOUNT OF EXPLOSIVES CONTAINED IN THE WRECK. (STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 1976/97). SI RECEIVED IN WKS 10.2.05. INS PROHIBITED AREA RADIUS 500MTRS (WK NOT CHARTED). - NM 1700/05. 11.2.05 11.2.05 POSN GIVEN IN SI CONFIRMED AS BEING [WGD]. WK REPORTED AS LYING INVERTED WITH MAIN STRUCTURAL GIRDERS BEING BENT AND TWISTED. NOTED AS BEING BROKEN INTO THREE MAIN SECTIONS. THERE IS A LARGE HOLE IN THE BOW AND ALSO ON THE STBD SIDE, THE OUTER PLATING IS PUNCTURED AND SPLAYED OUTWARDS. UNDERSTOOD THAT THE RN DID A PARTIAL CLEARANCE OPERATION IN 1986/87 BUT THIS WAS SUSPENDED AS THE NATIONAL TRUST, WHO OWN THE LOCAL BEACHES, EXPRESSED CONCERNS AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AND WANTED AN INDEMNITY FROM THE NORTH WALES POLICE. THIS WAS NOT GIVEN AND THUS THE OPERATION WAS NOT COMPLETED. (A KENTUCK, DEPUTY RECEIVER OF WK, EMAIL DTD 10.2.05). NCA. 10.3.14 10.3.14 EXAM'D 13.9.13 IN 5324.980N, 0435.888W [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 14.22 IN GEN DEPTH 21MTRS. NO SCOUR. LENGTH 108.2MTRS, WIDTH 17.7MTRS, HT 5.78MTRS. LIES 000/180 DEGS. NO AUTHORITY HELD TO USE MAGNETOMETER. LIES IN LARGE ROCKY OUTCROP. BOW AND STERN VISIBLE ALTHOUGH IT APPEARS THAT THE STRUCTURE HAS COLLAPSED. HIGHEST POINT IS A BOILER. (NETSURVEY, HI 1420). THREE BOILERS LIE IN LINE ATHWARTSHIPS. PLOTS V CLOSE TO W EDGE OF EAST PLATTERS ROCK. INS AS WK 14.2MTRS. RSDRA2025000357431 07.08.25 DW FOUND 2025; LOCATED IN 53.4163N, 004.5982W (WGD). LEAST M/B DEPTH 13.75MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 15MTRS. NFS. (NJORD SURVEY, DTD 10.07.25). AMEND DW 13.75MTRS IN REVISED POSTION. RSDRA2025000407257 02.09.25 EXAM'D 19.06.25; WRECK LOCATED IN 5324.980N, 0435.889W [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 13.75MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 21MTRS. LENGTH 104.70MTRS, WIDTH 26MTRS, HT 6.50MTRS, ORIENTATION 179/181 DEGS.SCATTERED DEBRIS AROUND THE WRECK.(NJORD SURVEY, HI1908). AMEND DW 13.75MTRS IN REVISED POSTION.
Last Amended Date Sep 2, 2025

Circumstances of loss

BUILT IN 1919 BY SIR RAYLTON DIXON & CO LTD, MIDDLESBROUGH. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY ELLERMAN LINES LTD. THREE BOILERS, TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE OF 310HP, SINGLE SHAFT. MACHINERY BY RICHARDSONS, WESTGARTH & CO LTD. PASSAGE MANCHESTER FOR LISBON. GENERAL CARGO, COPPER ORE AND COMMERCIAL EXPLOSIVES. ANCHORED IN CHURCH BAY FOR SHELTER AND LATER ATTEMPTED TO ROUND ANGLESEY FOR BETTER SHELTER. RAN AGROUND EAST PLATTERS. FLOATED OFF ON THE RISING TIDE AND SANK CLOSE BY.

General Comments

INVERTED, IN THREE PARTS, MUCH BENT AND TWISTED

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 53 24.98 N,4 35.889 W
Castilian on Wreck Map Castilian Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the CASTILIAN wreck located?

The CASTILIAN wreck is located at coordinates 53 24.98 N,4 35.889 W.

How deep is the CASTILIAN and where exactly is it located?

The CASTILIAN lies at a depth of about 13.75 meters and is located at coordinates 53 24.98 N,4 35.889 W.

How deep is the seabed around the CASTILIAN?

The seabed around the CASTILIAN lies at approximately 21 meters deep.

When did the CASTILIAN sink?

The CASTILIAN sank on Feb 12, 1943.

When was the wreck of the CASTILIAN discovered?

The wreck of the CASTILIAN was discovered in 1943.

What country did the CASTILIAN belong to?

The CASTILIAN belonged to GB.

What cargo was the CASTILIAN carrying?

The CASTILIAN was carrying armament,non-ferrous elements and ores: unrefined and refined,ore.

What was the tonnage of the CASTILIAN?

The CASTILIAN had a tonnage of 3067 tons.

What type of wreck is the CASTILIAN?

The CASTILIAN is classified as a steam ship.

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