Cargo vessel · lost 1947 · Dublin, Ireland
MV Bolivar
Also known as Bolivar, SS Bolivar.
In 1947 Dublin badly needed food. That winter was the worst anyone could remember, with weeks of freezing weather, snowstorms and drifts. On 4 March the Norwegian motor vessel Bolivar was crossing the Irish Sea, carrying grain and supplies from Uruguay that the city sorely lacked, when a blinding snowstorm came down and she ran onto the Kish Bank sandbank.
Efforts to get her off failed, she broke in two, and all of her crew were rescued. Her engine room was salvaged, and in 1948 explosives were used to disperse part of the wreck because she endangered shipping. What remains lies in 4-10 metres of water in two sections about 150 metres apart, and as the sands of the Kish Bank move they cover some parts and uncover others.
- Type
- Cargo vessel
- Lost
- March 4th, 1947Grounding
- Depth
- 4–10 m
- Location
- Dublin, IrelandIrish Sea
2 of 4 facts above are cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 16 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
History and LossLost March 4th, 1947 · Grounding · Dublin, Ireland.
February 1947 brought freezing weather, snowstorms and drifting snow, in one of the harshest winters anyone could remember. On the morning of 4 March the MV Bolivar, carrying grain and essential supplies that were sorely needed, was crossing the Irish Sea for Dublin Port when she ran onto the Kish Bank sandbank in a snowstorm. She tried to work herself free but broke in two and was a total loss.
Every member of her crew was rescued.
Lost March 4th, 1947, grounding.
Condition of the WreckBroken, in 4–10 m, on sand (shifting).
Intactness
Broken in two. Stern-to-midcastle section and bow lie approximately 150 metres apart. Engine room was salvaged and wreck partially dispersed with explosives in 1948. Shifting sands alternately expose and bury different sections of the wreck.
Notable Features
- Wrecked during worst winter in living memory — 1947
- Carrying badly needed grain supplies for Dublin
- Broken in two — bow 150m north of main section
- Shifting sands expose and bury sections
- Partially dispersed with explosives 1948
Additional Details10 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Propulsion
- Diesel
- Loss date
- March 4th, 1947
- Latitude
- 53.2702° N
- Longitude
- 5.9202° W
- Water body
- Irish Sea
- War grave
- No
- Protected
- No
- Permit required
- No
- Condition
- Broken
- Seabed
- Sand (shifting)
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- National Monuments Service — Wreck Inventory of Irelandassets.gov.ie · Official record20 facts
- Geological Survey Ireland / Marine Institute (INFOMAR)gsi.geodata.gov.ie · Official record12 facts
- mariner.iemariner.ie · Secondary source11 facts
- Irish Wrecks Onlineirishwrecksonline.net · Secondary source10 facts
- dublindiving.comdublindiving.com · Secondary source6 facts
- mass.ylog.nlmass.ylog.nl · Secondary source2 facts
- avtrykk.noavtrykk.no · Secondary source1 fact
- Irish Underwater Councildiving.ie · Club or operator2 facts
- INFOMAR Shipwrecks © Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- © Government of Ireland. National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
A further 4 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.
Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MV Bolivar?
MV Bolivar is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Dublin, Ireland, at 10 metres. MV Bolivar ran aground and was wrecked in 1947.
How deep is the MV Bolivar?
MV Bolivar lies at 4 to 10 metres, Kish Bank, near No. 2 buoy, Dublin Bay.
How did the MV Bolivar sink?
MV Bolivar ran aground and was wrecked on March 4th, 1947, off Dublin, Ireland.