Maritime record MWX1607 - Athen

German cargo vessel sank following collision with the SS THOR of Cardiff, 18 March 1906.

Built in 1893 by Richardson, Stockton-on-Tees, the Athen was screw driven by three cylinder triple expansion engines and two boilers. She was owned by O Gatzens, Hamburg and her Master was H Rochling. She had a crew of 25. Additional Construction Details: p deck 27ft; q deck 82ft. She sank following collision with the SS THOR of Cardiff in wind conditions WSW force 2. (5) From Cardiff to Rio Grande do Sol via Antwerp with patent fuel, collided with the SS THOR of Cardiff in a WSW 2 about eleven miles SW of Portland.(7) A coal block has been recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/874).(6) A porthole, a gauge, and a clock have been recovered from this wreck, 11 miles SW of Portland Bill. (Droit A/1347).(6) A plate recovered from this wreck, 20 miles S of Weymouth. (Droit A/2841).(6) Additional sources: LCR.1905 p7(d); LR 1904-5 No.1354(A). Xxx Wreck site and archaeological remains: Horizontal Datum: OGB Vertical Datum: LAT Quality of Depth: ES General Depth: 53 metres Method of Fix: D Sonar contact 50 20 36N 002 28 00W. 10-FEB-1960: Wreck in position 50 20 40N 002 27 18W. 18-MAY-1965: Least echo sounder 141 feet in general depth 174 feet. No scour. Seabed coarse sand. 22-JUL-1987: Wreck in 50 20 28N 002 27 33W is reported to be the Athens. (1) 08-SEP-1995: This is the wreck of the 'ATHEN'. The wreck was identified by the 'H.A.P.A.G' crest on crockery. The wreck is upright. 04-SEP-1996: The hull is intact but the decks have collapsed. The hull contains numerous 'PATENT CARDIFF' fuel blocks. Vessel identified by HAPAG pottery. 22-JUL-2003: Examined in 5020.788N, 0227.396W [WGD] using DGPS. The least echosounder depth was 45.0m in a general depth of 53m. No scour. Length 85m. Width 13m. Side scan sonar height 7.5m. The wreck is orientated 072/252 degrees with the bows towards 072 degrees. Moderate magnetic anomaly. The wreck is intact and upright. (2)(3) Charted by the UKHO as 'ATHEN' in 50 20.788N, 002 27.396W (WGS84). (2)(3) A coal block has been recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/874) (6) A porthole, a gauge, and a clock have been recovered from this wreck, 11 miles SW of Portland Bill. (Droit A/1347) (6) A plate recovered from this wreck, 20 miles S of Weymouth. (Droit A/2841) (6) A brass ship's name plate, 35cm x 20cm, with text: "Richardson Duck & Co., Shipbuilder, No.406, 1895, Stockton-on-Tees"; an oval china serving plate with crest: "DD 4 ZH Sunda Linie"; a ceramic water purifier 42cm x 26cm diameter with text: "est 1830/slade brownlow/cont." recovered from the ATHEN 12 miles SW of the Bill of Portland. (Droit 253/04) (8) Wreck event and documentary evidence: Sank following collision with the SS THOR of Cardiff in wind conditions WSW force 2. (5) Destination Rio Grande do Sul. (5) From Cardiff to Rio Grande do Sul via Antwerp with patent fuel, collided with the SS THOR of Cardiff in conditions WSW force 2,about eleven miles SW of Portland. (7) Built: 1893 (5); 1895 (8) Builder: Richardson, Duck & Son (5); Richardson, Duck & Co. (8) Where Built: Stockton-on-Tees (5)(8) Propulsion: Screw driven, 3 cylinder triple expansion engine (5) HP: 201 (5) Boilers: 2 (5) Construction: poop-deck 27ft; quarter-deck 82ft (5) Master: H Rochling (5) Crew: 25 (5) Owner: O Gatzens, Hamburg (5); DD 4 ZH Sunda Linie (8) Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss Additional sources cited in Shipwreck Index of the British Isles: LCR.1905 p7(d); LR 1904-5 No.1354(A)

Record last edited

Apr 11 2024 2:36PM