Balzac Wreck
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wreck Category | dangerous wreck |
| Status | Dead = Not detected by numerous sources therefore considered not to exist |
|
Balzac Wreck Location Marine Coordinates (DMM) |
54 54.537 N,1 19.598 W |
| Latitude, Longitude Decimal Degrees |
|
| Wreck Depth | 7.9 m |
| Water Depth | 14 m |
| Water Level Effect | always under water/submerged |
| Vertical Datum | Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide |
| Name | BALZAC |
| Type | motor vessel |
| Flag | NO |
| Length | 65.5 m |
| Width | 10.5 m |
| Draught | 3.9 |
| Sonar Length | 47 |
| Sonar Width | 9 |
| Shadow Height | 5.7 |
| Orientation | 150 |
| Tonnage | 963 |
| Tonnage Type | gross |
| Cargo | coal |
| Conspic Visual | not visually conspicuous |
| Conspic Radar | not radar conspicuous |
| Date Sunk | Jul 26, 1940 |
| Bottom Texture | Rock |
| Original Detection Year | 1974 |
| Last Detection Year | 2019 |
| Original Source | naval vessel |
| Surveying Details | H2433/74 20.6.74 UNKNOWN WK LOCATED IN 545431N, 011927W. SWEPT CLEAR TO 7.9MTRS. (HMS EGERIA, SIGNAL DTD 19.6.74). INS AS SW 4FMS 2FT. - NM 1410/74. H4412/71 13.8.74 NOW IN 545432N, 011926W USING HSA. (HMS EGERIA, HN). AMEND POSN AND WK TO SW 7.9MTRS. NC 1627. H2433/71 25.9.74 WRECK IS IN TWO PARTS THE LEAST DEPTH BEING OVER THE SEAWARD OF THE TWO SECTIONS WHICH LIES 70MTRS DUE EAST OF THE OTHER HALF. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO LOCAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS WK. SWEPT CLEAR 7.9MTRS [B], 8.3MTRS [A]. WK FOULED AT 8.0MTRS. LEAST DEPTH BY E/S 9.0MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 12-14MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 16.4MTRS. SEABED SLIGHTLY UNDULATING. (HMS EGERIA, 1974). NFA. H1310/82/29 29.9.82 WK LIES IN APPROX 50-55FT OF WATER CLOSE TO SOME LARGE ROCKS. WK IS UPSIDE DOWN LYING APPROX N/S, STERN TO S WITH SCOUR OF ABOUT 3FT ROUND THE STERN SECTION, WHICH STANDS ABOUT 20 FT HIGH AT THE RUDDER. PROP MISSING BUT SHAFT IS PROTRUDING FROM THE HULL. MUCH OF UPSIDE DOWN HULL IS INTACT ALTHOUGH BOW SECTION WELL BROKEN. ESTIMATED LENGTH TO BE 150FT. INTERESTING DIVE WITH LOTS OF MARINE LIFE. (G R YOUNG LTR DTD 21.9.82). HH090/796/01 22.12.98 EXAM'D 20.9.98 IN 545432.2N, 011935.9W [WGD] USING DGPS. SWEPT CLEAR 8.2, FOUL 8.5MTRS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 8.0 IN GEN DEPTH 14MTRS. NO SCOUR. DCS3 HT 5.7MTRS. LENGTH 47MTRS, WIDTH 9MTRS. LIES 150/330DEGS. WK WITH STERN LYING UPSIDE DOWN. AREA OF DEBRIS TO THE NORTH IS THOUGHT TO BE THE BROKEN REMAINS OF THE BOW. RETAIN AS SW 7.9MTRS. (GARDLINE, HI 796). RETAIN AS SW 7.9MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. 28.2.07 28.2.07 THIS IS BALZAC, THE BELL WAS RECOVERED A FEW YEARS AGO. (R YOUNG, EMAIL DTD 27.2.07). NCA. SEP 2019/000043627 19.39.19 NOW CONSIDERED PART OF WRECK [5689]. (MERITAITO, HI 1513). AMEND DEAD. |
| Last Amended Date | Oct 18, 2019 |
Circumstances of loss
BUILT IN 1921 BY ODENSE STAALSKIBSVAERFT, ODENSE. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY A/S GANGER ROLF (FRED OLSEN). 6 CYLINDER OIL ENGINE OF 225HP, SINGLE SHAFT. PASSAGE SUNDERLAND FOR COWES. CAME TO ANCHOR OFF ROKER LIGHT WAITING FOR CONVOY. AS ENGINE WAS STOPPED A MINE EXPLODED JUST AFT OF MIDSHIPS ON THE PORT SIDE. BROKE IN TWO AND SANK IN MINUTES, THE BOW FIRST WHILE LISTING TO PORT AND THE STERN 70MTRS AWAY. STATED TO HAVE BEEN DISPERSED BY EXPLOSIVES. (SIBI & R YOUNG).
WRECK MAP LOADING ...
54 54.537 N,1 19.598 W
Balzac on Wreck Map
Balzac Wreck on Google Map
Nearby Wrecks:
- Other Wreck 37700 21 M
- Other Wreck 52725 324.4 M
- Other Wreck 38053 607.5 M
- Other Wreck 38016 656 M
- Staithes (Possibly) Wreck 731.3 M
- Other Wreck 38033 743.6 M
- Other Wreck 52724 777.7 M
- Balzac Wreck 780.5 M
- Pipes Tubes Diffusers Wreck 39315 787.5 M
- Other Wreck 52701 800.8 M
General Comments
CONSIDERED TO PART OF [5688]