ScubaPlus have adopted the Countess of Erne!!.
We have just completed a series of dives as part of the the NAS Portland WreckMap project. Significant collapse was noted on the port stern of the wreck, probably due to winter storms. Please be aware that other areas of the wreck may be unstable, and please take care when diving.
This section of the website will soon be updated with the information gathered during the surveys.
Several of our divers recently attended the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) course, "Introduction to Foreshore and Underwater Archaeology".
An excellent time was had by all, and we were introduced to their 'Adopt A Wreck' scheme. The aim of this scheme is to encourage divers to gather information about wrecks, possibly over a long period of time. Adopting a wreck doesn't give ownership to a particular group, nor does it limit diving - it just means that a group of divers (in this case some of us) have agreed to gather information, surveys etc about a particular wreck and make it available.
As divers who use the Portland area regularly, we dive a wreck called the 'Countess of Erne' on a regular basis and we have decided to 'adopt' this wreck under the scheme. Over the upcoming months we intend to report on our progress, so keep an eye on this page.
If you have any information on the Countess of Erne, or any of the associated shipping companies, we would be grateful for anything you can pass onto us - and of course we'd credit your contribution.
Also, if any divers are interested in joining any of our survey dives, either to help out or just to see the wreck, we'd be pleased to see you - contact us via info@scubaplus.co.uk
History of the Countess of Erne
The Countess of Erne was built by the firm of Walpole, Webb & Bewley of Dublin in 1868. She was an iron hulled paddle steamer approximately 73m (240ft) in length, with 2 engines, built by Fawcett Preston & Co of Liverpool, delivering a total of about 300hp to two side paddles. She was fitted out to able to carry approximately 700 passengers, with more than 100 of those being in first class. She was also able to carry 700 tons of cargo.
In 1869, ownership of the Countess was transferred to the London & North Western Railway Company for use on their Holyhead to Dublin route. In 1873, she was transferred to their Greenore route. During this time, we know she had the following masters (captains):
- 1868 - James Beaumont
- 1869 - Robert John Fridge
- 1870 - Edwin Cole
- 1873 - George J C Smith
- 1873 - Richard Owen
Sometime during 1888-1889, she was put up for auction in Liverpool, where she was purchased by the Bristol Steam Navigation Company who put her into service for 2 years, before she was sold for scrap. In 1890, she was coverted into a coal hulk and used at several ports before finally being moored in Portland Harbour.
On the 16th September 1935, she broke free of her moorings and drifted before holing herself on the north-east breakwater of Portland Harbour and shortly afterwards sank.
Sidescan image of Countess of Erne
The Wreck of the Countess of Erne
Today, the wreck of the Countess of Erne lies on the sea-bed a few metres from the inner wall of the north-east arm of Portland Harbour. The seabed lies in a depth of approximately 15th metres, with the deck of the Countess being in about 9m.
The wreck is buoyed, normally on the stern and as you descend the shotline you will be able to start to make out the hull of the wreck. The superstructure has all been removed, leaving the hull, open on the stern deck with three connected holds. The wreck can be very silty, and care should be taken to ensure that good buouyancy control is used to prevent the visibility being reduced by disturbed silt.
The Countess is an important haven for marine life and many species can be spotted including pollack and wrasse, tompot blennies, crabs and the occassional lobster. More unusual sightings include triggerfish, lumpsuckers and very rarely red-band fish.