PERICLES 1908–1910
TSS Pericles, State Library of Western Australia
Description
Steamer: twin screw, quad. exp. 23″ x 34″ x 48″ x 69″ – 51″ 1075 NHP, boilers 215 lbs
Construction
Steel
Size
Length: 152 ft (46.3 m) Beam: 19 ft (5.79 m) Tonnage: gross 10,925; net 6,898 Draft: 9.40
Built
Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast, Ireland
Owner
George Thompson & Co Ltd. (Aberdeen Line)
Sunk
31 March 1910
Location
Off Cape Leeuwin
Latitude/Longitude
(-34.4221666667, 115.1373333333)
Sinking
The Pericles was en route to London from Melbourne when it struck an uncharted rock off Cape Leeuwin. It passed over the rock, but the damage to the forward plates was so great that within three minutes there was 5 m of water in the forward hold. The chief engineer, WL Robertson, and his crew worked waist deep in water attempting to shore up bulkheads and keep the pumps going. The ship was abandoned in an orderly manner within 25 minutes of the order being given. All crew and passengers were landed near the Cape Leeuwin lighthouse. There were 298 passengers bound for South Africa and England, and a crew of 163. No lives were lost. The Court of Inquiry concluded that ‘ … in all the circumstances of the occasion, the Master was justified in considering [the course] a safe and proper one …’. The lightkeepers each received a certificate from the Royal Shipwreck Relief and Humane Society NSW for the assistance given to the passengers and crew. In December 1910 HMS Fantome was sent to locate the rock, but after four days without any success it was concluded that the Pericles had probably knocked the pinnacle over or at least knocked part of it off.
Underwater
The wreck site is approximately 180 m long and 70 m wide. The prominent features are three large boilers and the port engine, which stands upright. The starboard engine is lying on its side. Visible are the two propeller shafts, propellers, anchors, copper pipes and part of the vessel’s framing. Ingots of lead are scattered near the propeller shafts. The wreck lies in 29.2 metres of water.
Gallery
Location
Videos
Animation of the Pericles by Wrecksploration, 2024