Tug; screw steamer, 2-cylinder compound steam engine of 20 HP
Owner:
Alex Armstrong and George Waters, Albany
Construction:
Iron
Sunk:
16 August 1902
Size:
Length: 15.12 m Beam: 3.84 m Draft: 2.13 m Tonnage: 28 gross, 7 net
Underwater:
A 1992 inspection by the Western Australian Museum noted that the wreck of the Escort lies parallel to the shore, bow pointing southwards. It lies in 2–2.5 m of water on a sandy bottom close to some rocks. The bow and mid-section are canted to port and the forecastle has collapsed. Deck beams are visible. The most prominent features of the site are the engine and boiler near the middle of the hull. The engine appears to have been torn from its mounting and lies to port and aft of the boiler. The boiler dome breaks the surface in swells. The stern has collapsed to starboard. There is no propeller.
Built:
R & H Green, Blackwall, England
Location:
Nornalup Inlet, Walpole, some 100 m from the bar, on the eastern edge of the inlet
Sinking:
The Escort left Albany at 5.30 pm on 13 August 1903 with a cargo of supplies for settlers at Walpole, although McKenna says the cargo was sails for Flinders Bay. On 15 August the Escort arrived outside Nornalup Inlet and was struck by heavy weather. It anchored with two anchors down in continuous rain and heavy squalls. At midnight the conditions worsened and at 1 am the port chain parted. The engine was put on stand-by. At 3 am the starboard chain parted. By 10 am the wind and sea conditions had worsened and the decision was made to beach the tug to save the crew. The Escort grounded on a sandy bottom, the fire was drawn and the vessel was allowed to fill. All the crew made it ashore and camped the night. Although Armstrong and Waters gathered equipment in preparation for refloating the Escort, it was not refloated. The wreck was stripped.
Longitude:
116.743804
Latitude:
-35.031512
Gallery
Single screw steam tug Richmond, built 1888, clydeships.co.uk
