Volnay Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Volnay Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		50 4.381 N,5 4.004 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 50.073017
  • Longitude: -5.066733
Wreck Depth 12.6 m
Water Depth 17 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name VOLNAY
Type steam ship
Flag GB
Length 117.3 m
Width 15.8 m
Draught 7.9
Sonar Length 115
Sonar Width 40
Shadow Height 5.3
Orientation 135
Tonnage 4610
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo armament,general and mixed goods
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Dec 14, 1917
Bottom Texture Sand
Scour Dimensions ,,000.5,
Original Detection Year 1917
Last Detection Year 2012
Original Source unknown
Surveying Details H2878/64 26.8.64 WRECK LOCATED ABOUT 5M FROM FALMOUTH, 300YDS OFF-SHORE. CARGO OF ABOUT 1000 TONS OF 18 PDR AND 1 PDR AMMUNITION. LIES IN 90FT OF WATER. REQUEST MADE FOR PERMISSION TO SALVAGE BRASS CARTRIDGE CASES. STRONGLY ADVISED AGAINST THIS BY SASO. (P A TOWNSEND). NCA YET. POSN PROBABLY A VERY POOR ESTIMATE. 11.12.64 MESSRS VINICOMBE, OF FALMOUTH, CONDUCTING SALVAGE OPS. WK IDENTIFIED AS THE VOLNAY, MINED 1917 CARRYING AN ADMIRALTY CARGO. DIMENSIONS 385 X 52 X 26.5FT. REPORTED 1917 IN (A) 2M E X S OF MANACLES BUOY (B) 6M SE OF FALMOUTH. (MEDN/F2/340/64). NCA. 1.3.65 LIES IN 100FT. SPORADIC SALVAGE OPS UNDERTAKEN. (INGHAM/VINICOMBE, TELECOM). STILL NO CONFIRMATION OF POSN. 18.5.65 WK LIES JUST INSIDE LINE JOINING NARE HEAD AND PORTKERRIS POINT AND 650FT FROM THE LATTER. AVERAGE DEPTH OVER WK 57FT. LIES N/S. COMPLETELY COLLAPSED. AMMUNITION HEAVILY ENCRUSTED. (RISDON BEAZLEY, TELECON 1956). PLOTS IN 500415N, 050403W. NCA. H2878/64 15.9.66 CHART AS DW IN 500415N, 050403W. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). NE 154. 13.6.67 MOST OF AMMUNITION SALVAGED BUT ABOUT 16.5% REMAINS. LATE IN 1966 TWO LARGE BOILERS AND INTACT BOW FORMED THE MOST PROMINENT WRECKAGE. (BSAC). NCA. H1270/79 16.12.82 NOT IN CHARTED POSN. RADAR FIX [3 LOP] PLOTS IN 500420N, 050353W. WK FAIRLY WELL BROKEN UP. STANDS ABOUT 3MTRS HIGH IN GEN DEPTH 20MTRS. DECCA USED. (COX'N, FDT DATCHET, TELECOM 16.12.82). CHART AS USC 15MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. H1288/83 12.4.84 DIVERS REPORT OF 1983. ABOUT ONE SIXTH CARGO REMAINS, SOME OF IT STREWN ABOUT ON SEABED. CASES OF AMMUNITION AND STEEL/BRASS SHELLS, WITH TOPS ON, ARE TO BE FOUND. BOW OF WK INTACT AND TWO LARGE BOILERS REMAIN. (S HUMPHREY). HH090/521/01 27.1.92 EXAM'D 27.6.91 IN 500421N, 050356W [OGB] USING TRISPONDER [3 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 13 IN GEN DEPTH 17MTRS. NO SCOUR. DCS3 HT 2MTRS. WELL SCATTERED AND DIFFICULT TO LOCATE WITHOUT DIVER TO BUOY EXACT POSN. HIGH POINT ISTHE THE BOILERS. (HMS BULLDOG, HI 521). AMEND TO WK 13MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. HH100/351/15 16.2.00 DIVED IN 1995 IN 5004.389N, 0504.010W [WGD] USING GPS. LENGTH 130MTRS, WIDTH 25MTRS. HT BY DEPTH GAUGE 4MTRS. BLOWN UP BY DIVERS RECENTLY (1999) TO ALLOW POSSIBLE ACCESS TO REMAINING CARGO. WK IS MUCH MORE UNRECOGNISABLE THAN IN 1995. SEABED SAND & SILT. (J ROSEVEARE). NCA. 25.10.00 AMENDED TO WK 13MTRS BY NM ACTION. - NM 4133/00. 19.2.13 EXAM'D 20.8.12 IN 5004.381N, 0504.004W [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 12.6 IN GEN DEPTH 17.5MTRS. SCOUR 0.5MTRS AT WK. LENGTH 115MTRS, WIDTH 40MTRS, HT 5.3MTRS. LIES 135/315 DEGS. STRONG MAGNETIC ANOMALY. BOW COLLAPSED TO STBD, STRUCTURE OF WK IS APPARENT. BOILERS EVIDENT. (EGS, FOR CHANNEL COASTAL OBSERVATORY, HI 1404). AMEND WK 12.6MTRS IN REVISED POSN.
Last Amended Date Feb 19, 2013

Circumstances of loss

BUILT IN 1910 BY RUSSELL & CO, PORT GLASGOW. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY VOLNAY SS CO. TWO BOILERS, TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE OF 449 NHP, SINGLE SHAFT. MACHINERY BY RANKIN, BLACKMORE & CO, GREENOCK. PASSAGE MONTREAL FOR PLYMOUTH. STRUCK MINE, PROBABLY LAID BY UC-64. TAKEN IN TOW FOR THE HELFORD RIVER BUT SANK IN SOME 10 FATHOMS. CARGO CONSISTED OF LUXURY GOODS INCLUDING PERFUME, TINNED MEAT AND FRUIT, FLOUR AND OTHER FOODSTUFFS IN SHORT SUPPLY. MUCH WAS SALVAGED. (SIBI).

General Comments

WRECKAGE WELL SCATTERED

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 50 4.381 N,5 4.004 W
Volnay on Wreck Map Volnay Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the VOLNAY wreck located?

The VOLNAY wreck is located at coordinates 50 4.381 N,5 4.004 W.

How deep is the VOLNAY and where exactly is it located?

The VOLNAY lies at a depth of about 12.6 meters and is located at coordinates 50 4.381 N,5 4.004 W.

How deep is the seabed around the VOLNAY?

The seabed around the VOLNAY lies at approximately 17 meters deep.

When did the VOLNAY sink?

The VOLNAY sank on Dec 14, 1917.

When was the wreck of the VOLNAY discovered?

The wreck of the VOLNAY was discovered in 1917.

What country did the VOLNAY belong to?

The VOLNAY belonged to GB.

What cargo was the VOLNAY carrying?

The VOLNAY was carrying armament,general and mixed goods.

What was the tonnage of the VOLNAY?

The VOLNAY had a tonnage of 4610 tons.

What type of wreck is the VOLNAY?

The VOLNAY is classified as a steam ship.

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