Maritime record MWX2151 - Start

(1) Built: 1896 Builder: Scott and Sons Where Built: Bowling HP: 98 Boilers: 2 Propulsion: Screw driven 3 cylinder triple expansion engine Owner: Acties. Start Master: A Olsen Date of Loss Qualifier: A The START was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. 11-FEB-1969 Reported to be no more than a heap of scattered wreckage extending 300 yards from the present position. 12-MAY-1971 Sonar sweep; clear at 14 fathoms, foul at 15 fathoms. (1)
Survey History (1):
26-JUL-1987 Wreck thought possibly to be the START, reported in Decca red H 4.2/ purple G 50.6.
06-APR-1990 Substantial sized wreck located using Decca in 50 30.42N 002 06.30W. Has three huge boilers - bigger and more distinctive than normal. Could possibly be the WWI tanker CONCH.

Sank following a severe explosion which is believed to have been caused by the detonation of a mine. (2) Brass ships clock case reported from this site, 10 miles south of Anvil Point. (Droit A/384).(4) A ships bell, compass binnacle and steering boss recovered from this wreck, position 50 28.26N, 001 49.59W. (Droit A/592).(4) A porthole recovered from this wreck, position 50 28.27N 001 49.57W. (Droit A/4214).(4) Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index:

Position 50 28.29 N 1 49.63 W taken from (5)

gross tonnage

<1> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1992, Hydrographic Office wreck index (Index). SWX4837.

<2> Larn, R, and Larn, B, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 1 : Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset Section 6, Dorset (AJ) Vol 1 (Monograph). SWX4541.

<3> Von Munching, L, 1968, Merchant shipping losses of Allied, neutral and central powers during and shortly after World War I, p101 (Monograph). SWX4751.

<3> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, Shipwreck 34 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<4> 2001, Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Receiver of Wreck Amnesty (Index). SWX4542.

<5> Wendes, D, 2006, South Coast Shipwrecks off East Dorset & Wight 1870 - 1979 (Monograph). SDO10496.

Record last edited

Dec 21 2007 10:20AM