Simplified Wreck Survey
Shipwreck History and Survey Details: TOLLEN Wreck in the River Tagus, Lisbon
The cargo vessel Tollen sank following a capsizing incident in the River Tagus, Lisbon, Portugal, near the Cais do Sodre ferry station. The historical survey and salvage records from the UK Hydrographic Office detail the timeline of the wreck, associated hazards, and ultimate removal operations.
Wreck Location and Coordinates
The general position of the TOLLEN shipwreck is recorded at coordinates 38° 42.5' N, 9° 7.4' W in the River Tagus, Lisbon Harbour, Portugal.
Timeline and Salvage History
February to March 1980: The vessel capsized and sank in the River Tagus. It initially drifted across Lisbon Harbour before being beached off the north shore of the river close to the Cais do Sodre ferry station. The wreck was noted as a navigation hazard, held fast to the riverbed by its forward structure and a heavy anchor.
April to May 1980: The completely capsized and awash wreck lay approximately 150 meters off the north shore. Detached debris, including a crane and containers, rested on the riverbed at depths posing a danger to navigation, prompting markings by multiple buoys and warning lights.
July 1981 to October 1981: Salvage operations were repeatedly delayed and eventually suspended following an explosion during welding works. Subsequent surveys located shifted wreck components, containers, and crane parts at shallow depths of up to 1.8 meters.
March 1982 to December 1982: The capsized vessel remained completely submerged and stuck in the riverbed by its forward deckhouses and bow. Navigation between the wreck and the shore was strictly prohibited, and various navigational buoys were deployed to mark the obstructions.
1983 to 1985: Following conflicting reports regarding the removal of obstructions, official records confirmed that the vessel was salved and the main wreck and associated debris (including containers and the crane) were progressively cleared from the River Tagus and surrounding dock areas by late 1983 and 1984, leading to the deletion of the wreck from active navigational charts.
Surveying Details
27.2.80 27.2.80 CAPSIZED AND SUNK IN RIVER TAGUS. DIVERS UNABLE TO LOCATE 4 CREW BELIEVED TRAPPED IN VESSEL. OWNERS HAVE INVITED TENDERS FOR SALVAGE. (LL, 16,19,20 & 21.2.80) 22.3.80 22.3.80 VESSEL BROKE LOOSE AND DRIFTED 1M DOWNSTREAM ACROSS LISBON HARBOUR IN GENERAL DEPTHS 9-13MTRS, THEN DRIFTED UPSTREAM CLOSE TO ORIGINAL POSN. TOWED DOWNSTREAM & BEACHED OFF N SHORE OF R. TAGUS CLOSE TO CAIS DO SODRE FERRY STATION. VESSEL & CARGO, WHICH IS ALLEGED TO CONSTITUTE A POLLUTION DANGER, WILL BE REMOVED. (LL, 17,18,20 & 22.3.80) NCA YET. H2238/77 27.3.80 H2238/77 27.3.80 CAPSIZED AND AWASH IN 384230N, 090724W. MARKED BY LT BUOY. (LISBON TNM 85/80) NCA, WRECK HAS SINCE MOVED. H2238/77 24.4.80 H2238/77 24.4.80 LIES COMPLETELY CAPSIZED & AWASH ABOUT 150MTRS OFF N SHORE BETWEEN CAIS DAS COLIRES & FERRY LANDING AT CAIS DO SODRE. DANGEROUS TO NAVIGATION, HELD FAST TO RIVERBED BY FORWARD ACCOMMODATION STRUCTURE & 15TON ANCHOR SECURED TO STERN. MARKED BY 2 Q.R LTS, RAFL AT BOW & STERN. PASSAGE BETWEEN WK AND RIVER BANK PROHIBITED. (LISBON NM 194/80). NCA, WILL CERTAINLY BE SALVAGED. H2238/77 9.5.80 H2238/77 9.5.80 CRANE & CONTAINERS FROM TOLLEN LIE ON RIVERBED, STANDING 5MTRS, DANGEROUS TO NAVIGATION, MARKED BY Y DRUM BUOY & LT BUOY. (LISBON TNM 124/80). NCA. 19.6.80 19.6.80 VESSEL STILL FLOATING UPSIDE-DOWN, SALVAGE OPS TO COMMENCE END JUNE-EARLY JULY. (LL, 30.5.80 & 19.6.80) NCA. 19.7.80 19.7.80 OPS TO PUMP FUEL OUT OF VESSEL TO COMMENCE 19.7.80. (LL, 19.7.80) 2.6.81 2.6.81 NO CHANGE IN POSITION EFFORTS STILL BEING MADE TO SALVE VESSEL. (LL, 24.11.80, 16.12.80, 21.2.81, 1.6.81) 29.9.81 29.9.81 SALVAGE OPS SUSPENDED FOLLOWING EXPLOSION DURING WELDING OPS. (LL, 28.9.81) H2238/77 13.10.81 H2238/77 13.10.81 WK IN 384228N, 090721W, MARKED BY Y ANCHOR BUOY & AN EXTINGUISHED LT BUOY 100MTRS DOWNSTREAM OF WK. HEAD OF JIB 5MTRS OFF SEABED, & SOME CONTAINERS AT A DEPTH OF 1.8MTRS. (LISBON TNM 202/81). H2238/77 17.11.81 H2238/77 17.11.81 CONTAINERS CAUSING AN OBSTN, LEAST DEPTH 1.8MTRS [1FM] IN 384217N, 090742W APPROX, & CRANE CAUSING AN OBSTN, LEAST DEPTH 1MTR [0.3FMS] IN 384219N, 090739W APPROX. (LISBON NM 216/81). - NM 2837/81. H2238/77 2.3.82 H2238/77 2.3.82 WK, CAPSIZED AND COMPLETELY SUBMERGED, STUCK IN RIVERBED BY FORWARD DECK HOUSES AND BOW MOORED BY 15TON ANCHOR. MARKED BY 2 LTS, FL.3S3M, RAFL. (LISBON TNM 71/82). NCA, CONFIRMATION OF EARLIER LLOYDS REPORT. 24.4.82 24.4.82 VESSEL DUE TO BE RAISED IN NEXT FEW DAYS. (LL, 22.4.82) H2765/69 27.5.82 H2765/69 27.5.82 REPEAT OF LISBON TNM 71/82. NAVIGATION PROHIBITED BETWEEN WK & SHORE. (LISBON TNM 112/82). NCA. H2765/69 7.6.82 H2765/69 7.6.82 NO.1 BUOY DISAPPEARED. (LISBON NM 303/82). NCA. H2238/77 14.12.82 H2238/77 14.12.82 PILOTS REPORT CHARTED OBSTNS REMOVED & AREA CLEAR. (HMS LONDONDERRY, HN 20.11.82). WRITTEN TO LISBON FOR CONFIRMATION. H2238/77 4.2.83 H2238/77 4.2.83 OBSTNS REMAIN, LISBON NM 216/81 STILL IN FORCE. (LISBON HYDRO DEPT, LTR DTD 19.1.83). NCA. H2523/81 6.10.83 H2523/81 6.10.83 OBSTNS, IN 384217N, 090942W & 384219N, 090739W, NO LONGER SHOWN ON PORTUGUESE 73. - NM 2703/83. H2238/77 18.3.84 H2238/77 18.3.84 VESSEL SALVED. (LL, 5,7 & 31.12.83). NCA. H2836/85 29.4.85 H2836/85 29.4.85 3 CONTAINERS & CRANE FROM VESSEL REMOVED FROM ENTRANCE TO DOCA DO TERREIRO DO TRIGO. (LISBON NM 210/84). AMENDED TO DEAD. NFA, ALREADY DELETED BY BA NM 2703/83.
Circumstances of loss
VESSEL, BUILT 1979 BY KASADO DOCK CO. LTD, KUDAMATSU. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY TACKLER 3 LTD, ON CHARTER TO POLISH OCEAN LINE. ON PASSAGE HAMBURG TO APAPA/LAGOS, WAS INVOLVED IN FOUR VESSEL COLLISION ENTERING LISBON IN THICK FOG. TOLLAN CAPSIZED WITH LOSS OF 4 LIVES. CAPSIZED VESSEL BROKE FROM MOORINGS 1 MONTH LATER AND DRIFTED 1M DOWNSTREAM, SHE WAS TOWED BACK TO POSITION AND BECAME EMBEDDED IN SILT, FINALLY BEING RAISED AND SCRAPPED IN DECEMBER 1983. (MSD)