Cargo vessel · 1982–1982 · Kerry, Ireland

MV Ranga

Also known as Ranga.

MV Ranga is an Icelandic cargo vessel grounded in 1982; the wreck lies at 2–12 metres off Kerry, Ireland.

Hollywood came calling for this wreck. The MV Ranga, a 1,586-tonne container ship, was driven onto the rocks at Dunmore Head near Coumeenole Beach on the Dingle Peninsula on 11 March 1982 after losing power in a severe storm -- on her maiden voyage under her new name. All fifteen crew were rescued, some by breeches buoy rigged by Dingle Fire Brigade, the rest by RAF helicopter.

Captain Miguel Angel Diaz Madariaga was the last to leave. The ship split in two. In 1991, the stern section with superstructure was hauled away for the filming of Far and Away starring Tom Cruise.

Type
Cargo vesselIcelandic
Year built
1982
Lost
March 11th, 1982Grounding
Casualties
0
Tonnage
1,586 GRTdiesel
Depth
2–12 m
Location
Kerry, IrelandAtlantic Ocean

4 of 7 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 23 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

History and LossLost March 11th, 1982 · Grounding · Kerry, Ireland.

Bound from Vigo, Spain, to Reykjavík, Iceland, on her first voyage, the MV Ranga lost power in a severe Atlantic storm on 11 March 1982. With no way to manoeuvre, she was driven onto the rocks at Dunmore Head, near Coumeenole Beach on the Dingle Peninsula. Dingle Fire Brigade, An Garda Síochána and an RAF helicopter worked together to bring off all fifteen of her crew, the last of them Captain Madariaga.

She soon broke into two sections and was a total loss, spilling oil as she went to pieces.

Built 1982; 0 years in service, also recorded as Ranga. Lost March 11th, 1982, grounding.

0lives lost on March 11th, 1982.

The Voyage

Last voyage
Vigo to Reykjavik
Destination
Reykjavik
Cargo
General cargo (containers)

Condition of the WreckBroken, in 2–12 m, on rock and sand.

Intactness

Partially removed. The stern section with superstructure was removed in 1991 for the filming of Far and Away. The remaining bow section wreckage lies scattered in the shallows at Dunmore Head. Surge and wave action continue to break up the remains.

Notable Features

  • Maiden voyage wreck
  • Stern removed 1991 for filming of Far and Away (Tom Cruise)
  • Dramatic Slea Head / Dingle Peninsula scenery
  • All crew rescued by breeches buoy and RAF helicopter

Additional Details12 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
Icelandic
Flag
Iceland
Propulsion
Diesel
Loss date
March 11th, 1982
Latitude
52.1092° N
Longitude
10.4683° W
Water body
Atlantic Ocean
War grave
No
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Broken
Seabed
Rock and sand

Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.

Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.

  • © 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 Ranga?

MV Ranga is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Kerry, Ireland, at 12 metres. MV Ranga ran aground and was wrecked in 1982.

How deep is the MV Ranga?

MV Ranga lies at 2 to 12 metres, Dunmore Head, near Coumeenole Beach, Slea Head, Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry.

How did the MV Ranga sink?

MV Ranga ran aground and was wrecked on March 11th, 1982, off Kerry, Ireland. No lives were lost.