Usworth Wreck
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wreck Category | non-dangerous wreck |
|
Usworth Wreck Location Marine Coordinates (DMM) |
48 10 N,31 50 W |
| Latitude, Longitude Decimal Degrees |
|
| Water Depth | 3600 m |
| Water Level Effect | always under water/submerged |
| Vertical Datum | Lowest Astronomical Tide |
| Name | USWORTH |
| Type | steam ship |
| Flag | GB |
| Length | 108.5 m |
| Width | 14.9 m |
| Draught | 7.3 |
| Tonnage | 3535 |
| Tonnage Type | gross |
| Cargo | grain |
| Conspic Visual | not visually conspicuous |
| Conspic Radar | not radar conspicuous |
| Date Sunk | Dec 14, 1934 |
| Original Detection Year | 1934 |
| Last Detection Year | 1984 |
| Original Source | other |
| Surveying Details | 17.12.84 17.12.84 VESSEL SANK IN 481000N, 315000W APPROX. (SHIPS MONTHLY DEC 1984). NCA. |
| Last Amended Date | Oct 18, 2004 |
Circumstances of loss
BUILT IN 1926 BY J BLUMER & CO. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY DALGLIESH SS CO. TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE OF 301NHP FOR 11 KNOTS. PASSAGE SYDNEY, NS FOR QUEENSTOWN. ENCOUNTERED ROUGH WEATHER AND ON THE 10.12 AN EXCEPTIONAL WAVE BROKE OVER HER SMASHING THE STEERING GEAR. AN SOS BROUGHT THE BELGIAN SS 'JEAN JADOT' THE NEXT MORNING. AFTER A LINE AND HAWSER WERE MADE SECURE, THE TWO SHIPS GOT UNDERWAY, THE 'USWORTH' MAKING STEAM BUT UNABLE TO STEER. 3 HRS LATER, THE TOW BROKE, BUT THE 'USWORTH' HAD BY NOW MADE REPAIRS AND SET COURSE FOR QUEENSTOWN. DURING THE 13.12 SHE RAN INTO HURRICANE FORCE WINDS AND ANOTHER HUGE WAVE BROKE OVER HER CAUSING HER CARGO TO SHIFT. SHE DEVELOPED A 25 DEGREE LIST. WATER SEEPED BELOW EVENTUALLY PUTTING OUT HER FIRES. DURING THE NIGHT THE CUNARD LINER 'ASCANIA' ARRIVED AND THE 'JEAN JADOT' RETURNED. A BOAT ATTEMPTED A RESCUE BUT CAPSIZED, DROWNING 12 OF THE 14 CREW AND 2 FROM 'JEAN JADOT'. THE 'USWORTH' WAS NOW IN IMMEDIATE DANGER OF SINKING AND A LIFEBOAT FROM 'ASCANIA' SUCCEEDED IN TAKING OFF THE REMAINING 9 CREW. 15 OF THE 26 CREW OF 'USWORTH' & 2 FROM 'JEAN JADOT' WERE LOST. (DODS).