Varvassi Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Varvassi Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		50 39.709 N,1 35.608 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 50.661817
  • Longitude: -1.593467
Water Depth 4 m
Water Level Effect awash
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name VARVASSI
Type steam ship
Flag GR
Length 114.5 m
Width 15.8 m
Draught 7.2
Orientation 22
Tonnage 3874
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo ferrous elements and ores: unrefined and refined,timber,animals (land & sea) and birds,foodstuffs: solid,foodstuffs: liquid
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Jan 5, 1947
Bottom Texture Rock
Original Detection Year 1947
Last Detection Year 2004
Original Source survey vessel
Surveying Details H6635/47 9.5.47 WK COMPLETELY BROKEN IN TWO. THE STERN PORTION, FROM APPROX 20FT FROM FUNNEL HAS FALLEN OFF THE BRIDGE REEF AND LIES PRACTICALLY SUBMERGED ABOUT 0.5C ASTERN OF THE MAIN PART OF THE WK AND DRIES 10-15FT [LWST]. TWO OF THE WOODEN AFTER DERRICKS ARE AFLOAT CLOSE BY AND ATTACHED TO THE SUBMERGED WRECKAGE. THE FORWARD MAIN PART OF THE WK IS WORKING AND SPLITTING A GREAT DEAL AND THE FUNNEL IS HEELED OVER AT A LARGE ANGLE. (THV BARNDALE, 7.5.47). H6635/47 2.10.47 LIES 257DEGS, 300FT FROM NEEDLES LT, 305/125DEGS WITH BOW TO NW AND ON AN EVEN KEEL. LEAST DEPTHS OF 2FMS AMIDSHIPS AND 3.25FMS AFT. (TH NM 116/47 DTD 18.9.47). - NM 2634/47. H6635/47 2.1.48 WK IS BREAKING UP. (C-IN-C PORTSMOUTH, 29.12.47). H6635/47 10.9.48 POSN 248DEGS, 0.7C FROM NEEDLES LTHO. DRIES 6FT. (SCES, 2.9.48). H1720/65 12.7.65 POSN N 70DEGS E [MAG], 242DEGS [T], 442FT FROM NEEDLES LTHO. DRIES 7FT. (HMS MEDA, 3.6.64). INS AS ST DRIES 6FT. BR STD. 15.5.69 WK HAS BEEN BLOWN UP AND WELL SALVAGED. ONLY TWO BOILERS AND OTHER WRECKAGE REMAINS. (MR RICHARDS, SALVAGE COMPANY OF WALES, TELECON). H4242/75 26.8.75 MFV 'OFFCUTS' [23.8.75]; MOTOR LAUNCH 'CHEEKA' [24.8.75] AND MOTOR LAUNCH 'GAY MARIE TWO' [24.8.75], HAVE ALL STRUCK THE WK OF THE 'VARVASSI'. THE SPAR WHICH WAS EXPOSED AFTER HW HAS BEEN KNOCKED OFF AND CONSEQUENTLY THIS WK IS CONSIDERED MORE OF A HAZARD TO SMALL CRAFT. (RNW TELEX DTD 26.8.75). SUFFICIENTLY WELL CHARTED. NCA. 26.1.83 WRECKAGE OF THIS VESSEL SEEN AT LWS. (COMMODORE J BRIGGS, TELECON). H1270/80 1.3.83 COMMODORE BRIGGS OBSERVATION CONFIRMED BY CG FRESHWATER. (TELECON, 1.3.83). AMEND TO DW (AWASH). - NM 722/83. 4.7.83 WK RECENTLY STRUCK BY SEVERAL YACHTS. (CDRE BRIGGS, TELECON). TH INFORMED. H4469/81 4.8.83 EXAM'D 30.9.82 USING TRISPONDER [2 LOP]. POSN AS CHARTED. LEAST E/S DEPTH DRIES 0.5MTRS IN GEN DEPTHS 3.5-4.5MTRS. NO SCOUR. LYING NE/SW. (SCESU, HI 97). NCA, SUFFICIENTLY WELL CHARTED. H1310/83/7 22.8.83 RECENTLY RE-SURVEYED. LIES IN APPROX NNE/SSW DIRN. FOUR SEPARATE PARTS READILY FOUND. THE TWO NORTHERNMOST PARTS DRY 0.5MTRS AND THE REMAINING TWO HAD LEAST DEPTH OF 0.7MTRS [LAT]. SURROUNDING GEN DEPTHS 2.8MTRS. HOWEVER NOT CONSIDERED A HAZARD TO GENERAL NAVIGATION BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THE NEEDLES. WILL NOT BE REMOVED OR MARKED. (TH, 12.8.83). NCA. CDRE BRIGGS INFORMED. H4469/81 16.3.87 TO BE TEMPORARILY MARKED, FOR DURATION OF 'ROUND THE ISLAND RACE', BY A YELLOW SPHERICAL BUOY. (DEPT OF TRANSPORT 30.1.87 & 27.2.87). NCA. H3846/88 17.10.88 EXAM'D 28.4.88 IN 503941N, 013533W [OGB] USING TRISPONDER [2 LOP]. WK DRIES IN GEN DEPTH 3.5MTRS. LIES ON RELATIVELY FLAT ROCKY FEATURE AND GIVES EXCELLENT E/S RETURN. NOT SONAR SWEPT. LOCAL DIVERS REPORT THAT MUCH OF THE WK HAS FALLEN OFF THE BRIDGE INTO DEEPER WATER. (HMSML GLEANER, HI 365). - NM 3266/88. HA141/02/01/02 17.12.90 EXAM'D 11.11.90 BY JOHN BINGEMAN TO ASSESS WRECKAGE REMAINING, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SALVAGE IN NEAR FUTURE BY CAL-SALV LTD. MOST PROMINENT PARTS REMAINING IN SHALLOW WATER WERE BOILER, GIRDER, MAIN ENGINE FRAME, AND PROP & CRANK SHAFTS, ALL WITHIN 150MTRS OF NEEDLES LIGHTHOUSE AND HAVING A DEPTH OF 1MTR [MLWS]. ANOTHER BOILER IN SIMILAR AREA IS AWASH AT MLWS. PART OF THE WRECKAGE LIES WITHIN DESIGNATED AREA FOR ADJACENT HISTORIC WK AND DEPT OF TRANSPORT AUTHORISED THIS SURVEY UNDER LICENCE. (REPORT: AGENDA FOR HIST. WK COMM. MEETING, 11.12.90). NCA. HH232/580/02 21.3.91 HFS INSURANCE PLANS TO FINANCE REMOVAL OF THE 4 MAIN PIECES OF WRECKAGE REMAINING. THEY LIE IN A LINE 150-250MTRS SW OF NEEDLES LTHO. THE 2 OUTER PIECES DRY AND THE OTHERS HAVE LEAST DEPTH OF ABOUT 0.7MTRS. DUNFERMLINE-BASED SALVAGE FIRM CARRIED OUT SURVEY AND IT IS HOPED TO HAVE THE WRECKAGE REMOVED PRIOR TO 22.6.91. (YACHTING WORLD, MARCH '91). 30.3.98 AMENDED FROM DW (AWASH) TO WK (AWASH). BR STD. 20.7.98 FOLLOWING WRECKAGE LIES WITHIN 200MTRS OF NEELDES LT HO: TWO BOILERS, ON ENDS LIKE SQUAT TINS OF BEANS, TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE, STERN TUBE AND CAST IRON PROP. BOW OF THE SHIP AND MUCH OF HER FRAMEWORK LIE IN DEEPER WATER TO THE SW OF THE PROPULSION MACHINERY. (P BRICE, LTR IN YACHTING WORLD, AUGUST '98) NCA. 6.7.00 NOW CHARTED AS DW (AWASH) WITH INTER-TIDAL TINT IN 5039.718N, 0135.635W [WGD]. NE 2021. HH232/580/12 21.10.04 HWK LIES IN 5039.710N, 0135.545W [WGD] (CENTRE POSN). BOILER OF WK AWASH (AT NE END) LIES IN 5039.719N, 0135.595W [WGD]. (BAS 1/90 PHOTOGRAPHY DTD 12.9.90 INDEX NO 1932/230). SHOWN WITH LENGTH APPROX 42MTRS, LYING 045/225 DEGS ON PHOTOPLOT. RETAIN AS DWP, WITH POSN DOT (AWASH) AT NE END, IN 5039.718N, 0135.634W [WGD]. BR STD.
Last Amended Date Nov 23, 2009

Circumstances of loss

EX-BRONZE WINGS, EX-NOELIE, EX-LADY CHARLOTTE '36, EX-MOSCHA C KYDONIEFS '46. BUILT IN 1915 BY NORTHUMBERLAND SB CO LTD, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY MRS J CHANDRIS. TWO BOILERS, TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE OF 371NHP, SINGLE SHAFT. PASSAGE BONA FOR SOUTHAMPTON & BOULOGNE. WENT AGROUND IN CLEAR WEATHER WHEN THE SHIP DRIFTED OUT OF CONTROL WHILE PICKING UP A PILOT. SALVAGE ATTEMPTED BUT FAILED. CREW RECOVERED. (SIBI).

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 50 39.709 N,1 35.608 W
Varvassi on Wreck Map Varvassi Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the VARVASSI wreck located?

The VARVASSI wreck is located at coordinates 50 39.709 N,1 35.608 W.

How deep is the seabed around the VARVASSI?

The seabed around the VARVASSI lies at approximately 4 meters deep.

When did the VARVASSI sink?

The VARVASSI sank on Jan 5, 1947.

When was the wreck of the VARVASSI discovered?

The wreck of the VARVASSI was discovered in 1947.

What country did the VARVASSI belong to?

The VARVASSI belonged to GR.

What cargo was the VARVASSI carrying?

The VARVASSI was carrying ferrous elements and ores: unrefined and refined,timber,animals (land & sea) and birds,foodstuffs: solid,foodstuffs: liquid.

What was the tonnage of the VARVASSI?

The VARVASSI had a tonnage of 3874 tons.

What type of wreck is the VARVASSI?

The VARVASSI is classified as a steam ship.

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