BATOE BASSI 1864–1880
Barque Northern Chief, AD Edwards Collection, State Library of South Australia, PRG-1373-41-38
Description
Barque
Construction
Wood
Size
Length: 115.5 ft (35.2 m) Beam: 24.8 ft (7.56 m) Depth: 13.5 ft (4.12 m) Tonnage: 293
Built
Drammen, Norway
Owner
Dutch registration
Sunk
31 May 1880
Location
The Batoe Bassi lies 300 m east of Alexander Point, about 45 m from the shore.
Latitude/Longitude
(-33.9077333333, 122.8329833333)
Sinking
The Batoe Bassi sailed from Java on 30 April 1880 bound for Melbourne. The barque was hit by a heavy gale when 700 km west of Carnarvon. The pumps had to be worked every two hours. Another gale hit a week later and the bad weather lasted a week. The pumps had to be kept going constantly. The crew became exhausted and one died. When the Batoe Bassi was 170 km south of Esperance, the captain decided to find an anchorage and seek assistance, the latter in vain. Another crewman died and the rest were too unwell to pump. By 31 May there was 1.7 m of water in the hold, so the captain ran the ship onto the beach in the hope of saving part of the cargo and possibly the ship. The Batoe Bassi grounded in 4 m of water. On 10 June the vessel fell on its side and began to break up.
Underwater
The wreck lies in shallow water on a sandy bottom. The wreck, which projects in parts above the sea bed some 1–1.5 m, is approximately 47 m long and 7.6 m wide. The keel is on an axis of 98°, starboard side towards the beach, and bow pointing slightly shorewards. There is a slight list to starboard. The lower section of the hull remains in situ with planking, frames and ceiling, bronze fastened. The timber is in good condition due to the protection of the anaerobic sediment only 20 cm below the sea bottom. There is some wire standing rigging, parcelled, served and coated with tar, with wooden deadeyes still attached. Reports state that more rigging lies buried in sand on the beach. There are two heaps of anchor chain near the bow, and a small wooden capstan.
Gallery
