Royal Charter Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Status Dead = Not detected by numerous sources therefore considered not to exist
Royal charter Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		53 21.698 N,4 14.922 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 53.361633
  • Longitude: -4.248700
Water Depth 4 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name ROYAL CHARTER
Type sailing vessel
Flag GB
Length 71.6 m
Width 12.5 m
Draught 6.7
Tonnage 2719
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo metal: concentrate and products,general and mixed goods,non-ferrous elements and ores: unrefined and refined
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Oct 26, 1859
Original Detection Year 1971
Last Detection Year 1990
Original Source diver
Surveying Details 5.10.71 POSN MARKED BY WHITE VERTICAL LINES PAINTED ON CLIFFS EACH YEAR BY LOCAL DIVING CLUB. (RAF SUB AQUA CLUB). H1282/76/50 26.2.7 PRESUMABLY THE SAME WRECK SHOWN IN POSN 532134N, 041515W ON MARKED UP CHART SUPPLIED. (A NEWTON, ST HELENS, LANCS). SALVAGE OPS WERE PUT IN HAND SOON AFTER THE TIME OF THE WRECK. SOME BOXES OF GOLD AND A GREAT QUANTITY OF SOVEREIGNS AND HALF-SOVEREIGNS WERE RECOVERED. (DODS). 24.6.85 REPORT RECEIVED THAT FURTHER SALVAGE WORK, USING EXPLOSIVES, IS IN HAND. (COLLINS, NAVAL LAW - TELECON). 22.8.85 WK WAS BROKEN INTO 3 PARTS. THAT CONTAINING THE STRONG ROOM WAS LOCATED 9.7.85 BY DIVING COMPANY, BEST SPEED, AND MANY ARTIFACTS INCLUDING GOLD COIN AND NUGGETS, HAVE BEEN RECOVERED. (SEATRADE, AUG '85). H3838/86 29.3.88 NOT LOCATED DURING SURVEY. SALVAGE WORK WAS BEING CONDUCTED ON WK BY EUROSALVE II DURING PERIOD OF SURVEY. (HMS FAWN, HI 357). HH210/350/01 26.3.90 FURTHER WORK (?SALVAGE/ARCHAEOLOGICAL) TO BE CARRIED OUT ON THIS WK FROM A 'MOVEABLE WORKING PLATFORM' TO BE CONSTRUCTED OVER THE SITE. (ROYAL CHARTER (MANAGEMENT) LTD, APPLICATION TO DEPT OF TRANSPORT DTD 14.3.90). POSN FOR WK INDICATED ON CHART CUTTING - 532141N, 041451W. SEP 2019/000245915 11.2.20 NOT LOCATED IN M/B DATASET (2019). (CLINTON MARINE SURVEY, HI1573). AMEND DEAD.
Last Amended Date Feb 11, 2020

Circumstances of loss

BUILT IN 1855 BY GIBBS, BRIGHT & CO, SANDYCROFT IRON WORKS, RIVER DEE. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY THE LIVERPOOL AND AUSTRALIAN SS NAVIGATION CO. A FAST CLIPPER WITH AN AUXILLIARY ENGINE. ONE BOILER, DIRECT ACTING TRUNK ENGINE OF 200HP, SINGLE SHAFT. PASSAGE MELBOURNE FOR LIVERPOOL. GENERAL CARGO INCLUDING �273,000 IN GOLD NUGGETS AND �48,000 IN SOVEREIGNS. MET WITH NE FORCE 12 WINDS AND RAN CLOSE INSHORE TO FIND SHELTER. PILOT COULD NOT REACH THE VESSEL DUE TO THE CONDITIONS. VESSEL ANCHORED BUT BOTH CABLES PARTED AT 0200 AND VESSEL DROVE ASHORE. 459 OUT OF TOTAL 498 PASSENGERS AND CREW LOST INCLUDING ALL OF THE SHIP'S OFFICERS.

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 53 21.698 N,4 14.922 W
Royal Charter on Wreck Map Royal Charter Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the ROYAL CHARTER wreck located?

The ROYAL CHARTER wreck is located at coordinates 53 21.698 N,4 14.922 W.

How deep is the seabed around the ROYAL CHARTER?

The seabed around the ROYAL CHARTER lies at approximately 4 meters deep.

When did the ROYAL CHARTER sink?

The ROYAL CHARTER sank on Oct 26, 1859.

When was the wreck of the ROYAL CHARTER discovered?

The wreck of the ROYAL CHARTER was discovered in 1971.

What country did the ROYAL CHARTER belong to?

The ROYAL CHARTER belonged to GB.

What cargo was the ROYAL CHARTER carrying?

The ROYAL CHARTER was carrying metal: concentrate and products,general and mixed goods,non-ferrous elements and ores: unrefined and refined.

What was the tonnage of the ROYAL CHARTER?

The ROYAL CHARTER had a tonnage of 2719 tons.

What type of wreck is the ROYAL CHARTER?

The ROYAL CHARTER is classified as a sailing vessel.

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