Empire Heritage Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category non-dangerous wreck
Empire heritage Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		55 32.558 N,7 43.037 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 55.542633
  • Longitude: -7.717283
Wreck Depth 57 m
Water Depth 66 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name EMPIRE HERITAGE
Type tanker
Flag GB
Length 176.8 m
Width 22.3 m
Draught 15.5
Sonar Length 155
Sonar Width 37
Shadow Height 6.9
Orientation 130
Tonnage 15702
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo vehicles,flammable liquids and gases,oil
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Sep 8, 1944
Original Detection Year 1944
Last Detection Year 2005
Original Source naval vessel
Surveying Details 8.9.44 8.9.44 POSN 553200N, 074245W BY ASDIC & OIL PATCH. VESSEL WAS TORPEDOED IN STARBRD SIDE & SANK IN 10 MIN. (ESCORT GROUP 5, 8.9.44). CHART AS NDW. - NM 2047/44. 30.11.44 30.11.44 SONAR CONTACT IN 553300N, 074500W. OIL. (ROWLEY AUBD 317/20) H1173/66 20.5.66 H1173/66 20.5.66 EXAM'D IN 553230N, 074258W. LEAST E/S DEPTH 139FT IN GEN DEPTH 215FT. NO SCOUR. (HMS DALRYMPLE, 8.10.65). CHART AS WK 23FMS [42MTRS]. NC 2723. H3740/69 16.10.74 H3740/69 16.10.74 POSN 553230N, 074258W. (RISDON BEAZLEY MARINE). H2175/81 12.1.81 H2175/81 12.1.81 EXAM'D 28.3.80 IN 553233N, 074259W USING RO/RO HIFIX [2 LOP] & DECCA. LEAST E/S DEPTH 44 IN GEN DEPTH 66MTRS. DCS3 HT OF MAIN PART OF WK 14MTRS, BUT A MAST STANDS 20MTRS. LENGTH 170MTRS, LYING 120/300 DEGS. (HMS HYDRA, HI 21/79-80). RETAIN AS WK 42MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. 1.5.02 1.5.02 WK LIES PARTIALLY TWISTED WITH STERN INVERTED ON SANDY SEABED. FOUR BLADED PROP IN POSN. SIX DOUBLE-ENDED SCOTCH BOILERS AND TWO TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINES VISIBLE. FWD ARE NUMEROUS BUCKET DUMP TRUCKS, SOME LOADED WITH TYRES, SCATTERED ON THE SEABED. MORE TANKS AND SUPPLIES LIE IN HOLDS. BOW IS SMASHED AND LIES TO PORT. LARGE ANCHOR IN PLACE. (DIVER MAGAZINE MAY 2002). NCA. HH100/351/21 28.11.03 HH100/351/21 28.11.03 DIVED IN 5532.539N, 0743.040W [WGD]. DEPTH TO WK 50MTRS BY DIVER'S GAUGE, GEN DEPTH 69MTRS. LEAST DEPTH IS TO THE VERY TOP OF TWO DERRICKS THAT RISE HIGH FROM THE WK, UPRIGHT TOWARDS THE SURFACE. SHERMAN TANKS SCATTER THE SEABED WHICH IS OF WHITE SAND WITH SCATTERED GRAVEL. IDENTITY CONFIRMED BY OBVIOUS CARGO. (L BISHOP, EMAIL DTD 28.11.03). PREVIOUS REPORT IN 'DIVER' CONFIRMED AS BEING BY MR BISHOP. AMEND TO WK 52MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. 25.4.07 25.4.07 WK LOCATED IN 5532.558N, 0743.037W [WGD] USING DGPS. GEN DEPTH 65MTRS. LENGTH 155MTRS, WIDTH 37MTRS, HT 6.9MTRS. (INSS SURVEY 1999-2005). LIES 130/310 DEGS. GENERALLY INTACT WITH BOWS SE. LINE OF DEBRIS EXTENDS SOME 100MTRS NNW FROM SE (BOW) END. SCOUR AROUND WK. DERRICKS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED BY DIVERS NOT EVIDENT ON M/B IMAGES. RETAIN AS WK 52MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. 25.2.14 SEP 2014/000357199 25.2.14 LEAST DEPTH 57.45MTRS. (GSI). AMEND WK 57MTRS.
Last Amended Date Feb 25, 2014

Circumstances of loss

EX-TAFELBERG '43. BUILT IN 1930 BY ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH & CO LTD, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. ONWED AT TIME OF LOSS BY THE MINISTRY OF WAR TRANSPORT. SIX BOILERS, TWO TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINES OF 1079NHP, TWIN SHAFT. PASSAGE NEW YORK FOR LIVERPOOL AND THE CLYDE. TORPEDOED & SUNK BY U 482. 60 MEN LOST. (SII).

General Comments

INTACT, STERN INVERTED, BOWS SE, SCOUR AROUND WK

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 55 32.558 N,7 43.037 W
Empire Heritage on Wreck Map Empire Heritage Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the EMPIRE HERITAGE wreck located?

The EMPIRE HERITAGE wreck is located at coordinates 55 32.558 N,7 43.037 W.

How deep is the EMPIRE HERITAGE and where exactly is it located?

The EMPIRE HERITAGE lies at a depth of about 57 meters and is located at coordinates 55 32.558 N,7 43.037 W.

How deep is the seabed around the EMPIRE HERITAGE?

The seabed around the EMPIRE HERITAGE lies at approximately 66 meters deep.

When did the EMPIRE HERITAGE sink?

The EMPIRE HERITAGE sank on Sep 8, 1944.

When was the wreck of the EMPIRE HERITAGE discovered?

The wreck of the EMPIRE HERITAGE was discovered in 1944.

What country did the EMPIRE HERITAGE belong to?

The EMPIRE HERITAGE belonged to GB.

What cargo was the EMPIRE HERITAGE carrying?

The EMPIRE HERITAGE was carrying vehicles,flammable liquids and gases,oil.

What was the tonnage of the EMPIRE HERITAGE?

The EMPIRE HERITAGE had a tonnage of 15702 tons.

What type of wreck is the EMPIRE HERITAGE?

The EMPIRE HERITAGE is classified as a tanker.

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