SS Pericles

Pericles loading, Brisbane 1908
History
Name: SS Pericles
Operator: Aberdeen Line (1907-1910)
Route: London-Sydney
Builder: Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Yard number: 392
Launched: 21 December 1907
Completed: 4 June 1908
Maiden voyage: 8 July 1908
Fate: Struck a rock and sank, 31 March 1910
General characteristics
Type: Ocean liner
Tonnage: 10,925 GRT
Length: 500 ft 5 in (152.53 m)
Beam: 62 ft 3 in (18.97 m)
Depth of hold: 31 ft 1 in (9.47 m)
Propulsion: 2 × quad expansion engines
Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)

SS Pericles was a 10,925-ton ocean liner of the Aberdeen Line launched in 1907. In 1910, she hit a rock near Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia and sank, although with no loss of life.

Ship history

Pericles was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, being launched on 21 December 1907. She left London on her maiden voyage to Australia on 8 July 1908. She was the first ship of the Aberdeen Line to be built by Harland & Wolff and at that time the largest on routes to Australia for first and third class passengers.[1]

On 31 March 1910, on her way home from Sydney to London, under the command of Captain Alexander Simpson,[2] Pericles struck an uncharted rock 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Cape Leeuwin. The weather was calm and 238 passengers and 163 crew[2] were able to safely abandon ship, which sank shortly thereafter.[1]

Aftermath

On 7 April 1910 a Court of Inquiry was commenced at Fremantle Courthouse. It concluded on 14 April 1910 and found that the ship's master had taken all due care and vigilance, but had struck a previously uncharted submerged obstruction and thereby foundered.[3]

The wreck lies 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) south of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse at a depth of about 35 metres (115 ft).[3]

It was discovered by diver Tom Snider in 1957, and he subsequently removed lead from the wreck in following years.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Dunn, Laurence (1964). Famous Liners of the Past Belfast Built. London: Adlard Coles. pp. 18–19. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. 1 2 "SS Pericles". Wreck Site. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Pericles, off Cape Leeuwin". Shipwreck Databases. Western Australian Museum. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Tom Sniders' discovery


Coordinates: 34°25′20″S 115°08′14″E / 34.42217°S 115.13733°E / -34.42217; 115.13733

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