Commercial dive boats and club boats launching from harbour. Landing Craft and Bombardon Unit (17-19m). The port's aim was of developing the ship repair, leisure and tourism potential of the harbour. HMS Hood was a modified Royal Sovereign-class pre-dreadnought battleship built for the Royal Navy in the early 1890s. read more Shore Diving Portland offers one of the best shore on the South Coast with Chesil Cove being the highlight for many pleasurable scenic dives full of marine life. In October 2007 work commenced on a new marina and recreational boating facility. [84] A number of pillboxes were built around East Weare Battery. The Royal Yachting Association had expressed interest in securing a suitable site locally for a number of decades, in order to make use of the harbour's natural advantages. [65][66], On the northeast breakwater, at the southern end, directly opposite the fort, is the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse. General History Group created on November 15, 2013. It is badly silted and fairly broken up but is full of marine life. Today, Salsette lies on her port side in 45m with her starboard rail around 32m. STEAM TRAWLER BUILT 1918 BY FULLERTON & CO, PAISLEY. The Dredger lies right outside of Portland Harbour within the shelter of Balaclava bay, right in front of the large winch and many anchors that can be spotted from see. Please click here to go to the Home page and here to go to the Navigation page, Please click on the name of a ship to see pictures of that shipwreck. Nearly 400 souls were lost on her. [29], In 1917 the RNAS seaplane base at Portland was commissioned as HMS Sarepta. Renamed Jascon 27, the ship left Portland under tow in 2010, bound for Nigeria, to be refurbished for use as an oil industry accommodation vessel. Bottlebank Drift (19m). The wreck was blown by explosives to clear the way for the Winfrith pipeline. [59][60] The shed has been Grade II Listed since 2001. However, despite published reports in 1996 revealing that Portland Port Ltd were interested in the renovation of historic coastal fortifications in the area, no restoration of any kind has taken place.[40]. [31] In July 1940, the anti-aircraft ship HMS Foylebank was attacked by Stuka dive-bombers and sank in the harbour. Can be very prolific sea life. She was built in the early 1880s and the conversion took place 1889. This facility was open by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in April 2009 and is situated directly adjacent to the National Sailing Academy. Hood, the last of the eight Royal Sovereign-class battleships to be built, differed significantly from the other ships of her class in that she had a forward freeboard of only 11feet 3inches (3.43m) compared to 19feet 6inches (5.94m) of the other ships. [19] On 2 April 1911 the ship was in Cork Harbour for the 1911 Census. The ship carried 200 rounds for each gun. ALTHOUGH FLOATED OFF THE BREAKWATER IN 1901 IT WAS EVENTUALLY WRECKED OFF THE ORKNEY ISLES ON 21st FEBRUARY 1906. With the advent of the helicopter and its importance as an anti-submarine weapon, an airfield was formed following World War II. Be careful in poor visibility as it is easy to find oneself in the wreck without even knowing it! Below the armoured deck their armour was reduced to 11 inches (279mm). CARGO IRON ORE. Boscawen was herself replaced in 1873 by HMS Trafalgar, which took on the same name. In this section we look at dives available around Portland and inside Portland Marina with links to photos and information on the most popular harbour dives. [35] The remaining two units now act as a wind-break, helping ships berth at Queen's Pier in the harbour. The Bombardon Unit is a star shaped barges with lots of hatches. [24] Before being installed on the battlecruiser, the bell was inscribed around the base with the words: "This bell was preserved from HMS Hood battleship 18911914 by the late rear admiral, The Honourable Sir Horace Hood KCB, DSO, MVO killed at Jutland on 31st May 1916. The Countess of Erne is probably the most popular dive-site in Portland Harbour. The wreckage is pretty much broken up. she became a total loss. She lies upright. [11] Part of the Falklands War task force sailed from Portland in 1982. A small Admirality trawler only 123 long that went aground on Blacknor Point in March 1920 in thick fog, slid off and sank there. WebDespite weather warnings (which the captain may or may not have received), the ship headed northeast out of the harbor on a track to Portland, Maine. The Dredger (Breakwater wall down to 12m). A requisitioned yacht sunk by German aircraft in 1940. Unfortunately, conditions worsened quickly and the vessel was caught in a major storm with strong winds, high seas, and snow-impaired visibility. The restricted water exchange leads to elevated water temperatures which accounts for the presence of several marine species beyond the typical northern limits of their range. [25] The nearby Royal Naval Hospital in Castletown served the naval base from 1904 (replacing an earlier small hospital) until 1957, when it was handed over to the NHS. The combined closure of all Portland-based establishments was believed to have cost the area 4,500 jobs, along with a loss of 40 million in the area's economy, according to a study carried out for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in 1995. WebPortland Harbour offers half a dozen of wreck sites, one of the most popular and intact of these is the Countess Of Erne ~ one of the most popular Portland Harbour wreck sites, Depth Max 16m. This small landing craft lies beside the Breakwater wall and close to the Bombardon unit. FREE FRENCH SUBMARINE (MINERVA) ASHORE AT PORTLAND IN 1945 WHEN IT BROKE ITS TOW LINE. [14] She arrived at Malta on 3 July 1893, relieving the battleship Colossus. This passenger liner Paddle steamer was later converted to a coal hulk but in 1935 broke loose from her moorings and sank against the breakwater. The M2 is a one-of-a-kind submarine aircraft carrier which sank off Portland in 1932 during routine exercises (see panel). A DETAILED HISTORY OF THIS SHIP AND ITS MISHAPS CAN BE READ BY CLICKING HERE. This 5965 ton Belgian passenger liner, 420 with 57 beam, sunk in September 1939 by a mine en route to Antwerp. It is badly broken up with large pieces of machinery present and lying in a rock shingle sea bed. Unfortunately, conditions worsened quickly and the vessel was caught in a major storm with strong winds, high seas, and snow-impaired visibility. The Red Band Fish and Lumpsuckers that visit the Countess seasonally are occasionally even joined by seals. Going far out from the area could lead to deeper grounds with depths ranging in excess of 35 metres but sticking to shore, especially in the kelp beds, divers can see plenty of sea life, crabs and lobsters. A British steamship of 4200 tons she was requisitioned by the government during WWI and was torpedoed and sunk on April 15, 1918 en route from London to Newfoundland with a loss of fifty lives. The original harbour was naturally protected by the south coast of England, Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland, providing refuge for ships against weather in all directions except east. During 1913 and 1914 she was employed as a target for underwater protection experiments and was used in secret tests of anti-torpedo bulges. [34], During both World War I and II, the bay was filled with neutral ships at anchor waiting to be searched for materials that might be useful to the enemy. Despite its shallow depth, because it can be dived in almost any weather conditions and the lure of the wreck itself, the Dredger is even regularly visited by technical divers who use it as a platform for training. The wreck, carrying a general government cargo, sits upright on the bottom. Webmore pictures and details of portland shipwrecks can be found here. [11], The initial southern breakwaters were built between 1849 and 1872; meanwhile, various defences were created to defend the harbour. In April 2000 the contract was signed for a new bunkering jetty and berth, which came into service in 2005. [5] Prompted by the expansion of the French naval port of Cherbourg, just across the Channel, the Royal Navy established a base at Portland in 1845 and a scheme for the harbour to be transformed into a refuge was granted parliamentary approval the year before. THE WRECK WHICH WAS SOLD FOR 1. Her wreck became known as "Old Hole in the Wall". This is an East Inidiaman that struck the Shambles bank and sunk in front of Weymouth in 1805 with a large loss of life. HISTORY. WebThis is a documentation and monitoring programme to survey underwater sites around Weymouth and Portland, including the wrecks of Portland Harbo Private Only members can see who's in the group and what they post. [75] Additionally there is a World War I battery observation post. This WWII destroyer is a war grave and was lost to German aircraft torpedo attack in June 1944 with 150 souls on board. This was seen as a vindication of the barbette/high-freeboard design in the rest of her class, and all subsequent British battleship classes had high freeboard. Hood's secondary armament consisted of ten 40-calibre 6-inch Mk I-III guns mounted in casemates in the superstructure. read more Shore Diving Portland offers one of the best shore on the South Coast with Chesil Cove being the highlight for many pleasurable scenic dives full of marine life. [18] She participated in combined exercises with the Channel Squadron and the Cruiser Squadron off the coasts of Cephalonia and Morea in late 1902. The James Fennel also can be drifted or done as part of a drift dive. One of the few large wrecks on the East side of the bill. Depending on the tide, divers can get a good drift dive in this area. Unfortunately, conditions worsened quickly and the vessel was caught in a major storm with strong winds, high seas, and snow-impaired visibility. as well as the dozens of hermit and spider crabs. Frequent visitor John Liddiard reveals his route. Foylebank - Part Three", "Subterranea Britannica: Sites: Portland underground Naval Headquarters & Communications Centre", "Northern Chiswell and Northern Fortuneswell", "Maritime Archaeology Trust Maritime Archaeology Trust, HWTMA Mulberry Harbour", "MULBERRY HARBOUR, TWO SECTIONS CIRCA 115 METRES NORTH OF PIER (1203075)", "BBC ON THIS DAY | 13 | 1961: Five Britons accused of spying for Moscow", "Portland's naval history ends as last warship sails", "EGDP Portland Heliport - Helicopter Database", "Dorset Coast Landscape and Seascape Assessment", "Portland Port's 26m deep-water berth upgrade set to start", "Asylum seeker barge plan could face legal challenge", "History - WPNSA - Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy", "Details from listed building database (1203106)", "Details from listed building database (1205991)", "Details from listed building database (1281863)", "Details from listed building database (1002412)", "Details from listed building database (1205814)", "Details from listed building database (1280475)", "Details from listed building database (1203099)", "Details from listed building database (1203074)", "Visitor centre for Island (From Dorset Echo)", "Details from listed building database (1389124)", Coxswain Edward Palmer, awarded BEM for rescue work following the sinking of HMS Foylebank in Portland Harbour, July 1940, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portland_Harbour&oldid=1152429965, Ports and harbours of the English Channel, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2016, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Floating Dry Dock Development at Queen's Pier. The coastal battery opened in 1901 and was armed with two 12-pounder quick-firing (QF) guns for anti-torpedo craft defence. This British submarine was sunk as a target after colliding with the HMS Hazard. The battery was opened in 1901 and was armed with two 12-pounder quick-firing (QF) guns for anti-torpedo craft defence. This 3000 ton Spanish steamship dragged her anchor in a Force 9 gale in December 1900 and was grounded on the rocks close to the Breakwater where she slipped and eventually sank. One of the most popular boat dives from Portland this submarine is an official War Grave. As an Admirality armed trawler the Arfon sank in 1917 when she hit a mine. It covered the middle 250 feet (76.2m) of the ship and was 8.5 feet (2.6m) high of which 5feet 6inches (1.7m) was below the waterline at normal load. However the opportunity did not develop until the end of the 20th century, with the withdrawal of the Royal Navy. You can also find a detailed list of all inshore and offshore dive sites with their depths at the end of this page.? However at 03:45 on the 4 th November 1979 she took on too much water and sank 5 miles south of St Aldhelm's Head, still 12 miles from the safety of Portland.
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