Passenger liner · 1906–1915 · Cork, Ireland

RMS Lusitania

Also known as Lusitania, Lucy.

RMS Lusitania is a British passenger liner built in 1906 and torpedoed in 1915; the wreck lies at 87–93 metres off Cork, Ireland. The site is a designated war grave.

Eighteen minutes. That's all it took for the Lusitania to disappear beneath the Celtic Sea on 7 May 1915, taking 1,198 souls with her. A single torpedo from U-20, fired with the Old Head of Kinsale eleven miles to the north, struck the starboard side -- followed by a mysterious second explosion whose cause is still debated.

The sinking turned American opinion against Germany and altered the course of World War I. Today the wreck lies on her starboard side at approximately 93 metres, heavily collapsed and continuing to degrade from corrosion and tidal currents.

The wreck is protected under Irish law (National Monuments Acts; Underwater Heritage Order), and the Irish Examiner reported in 2024 that efforts are underway to document and recover artefacts before further collapse.

StatusWar graveStatusProtected sitePermitRequired
Type
Passenger linerBritish
Year built
1906John Brown & Company, Clydebank
Lost
May 7th, 1915Torpedo
Casualties
1,198World War I
Tonnage
31,550 GRTsteam turbine
Length
240 m26.8 m beam
Depth
87–93 m
Location
Cork, IrelandCeltic Sea

6 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 179 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

  • Lives lost: 1,198 (most-cited figure); range in sources 1,193–1,198. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).
  • Depth: 93 m shown; range in sources 88.3–93 m. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).

History and LossLost May 7th, 1915 · Torpedo · World War I · Cork, Ireland.

At 14:10 on 7 May 1915, Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger of U-20 fired a single torpedo at the Lusitania from a range of approximately 700 metres. The torpedo struck the starboard side just behind the bridge.

A second, larger internal explosion followed almost immediately — its cause remains debated, with theories including a coal dust explosion, a steam explosion from ruptured boilers, or detonation of undeclared munitions. The ship listed heavily to starboard and sank bow-first in 18 minutes. The rapid sinking and severe list prevented many lifeboats from being launched, contributing to the catastrophic loss of life.

Built 1906 by John Brown & Company, Clydebank; 9 years in service, also recorded as Lusitania and Lucy. Lost May 7th, 1915, torpedo during World War I.

1,198lives lost on May 7th, 1915.

The Voyage

Last voyage
New York to Liverpool
Final port
Queenstown (Cobh)
Destination
Liverpool
Cargo
General cargo, small arms ammunition, fuse components

Condition of the WreckBroken, lying starboard side down, in 87–93 m, on mud and sand.

Intactness

Heavily deteriorated. The hull has collapsed onto the starboard side. The superstructure is largely gone. The bow section, propellers, and some internal machinery are identifiable but the wreck continues to degrade.

The Irish Examiner reported in 2024 that the wreck is facing further collapse and efforts are underway to document and recover artefacts.

Notable Features

  • Collapsed hull on starboard side
  • Bow section
  • Four bronze propellers
  • Remains of deck machinery
  • Massive debris field

Regulations and RestrictionsWar grave · Protected site · Permit required.

This is a war grave, where human remains may be present and a legally protected site. Underwater Heritage Order under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987 (National Monuments Service). Protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service). A licence issued by the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government (National Monuments Service) is required for diving, survey or salvage within the restricted area around the wreck (Marine Notice No. 41 of 2024). No artefact removal.

Strict - no artefact removal.

Additional Details21 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
British
Flag
United Kingdom
Builder
John Brown & Company, Clydebank
Propulsion
Steam turbine
Loss date
May 7th, 1915
Conflict / event
World War I
Registry no.
124082
Machinery
Parsons direct-drive steam turbines, quadruple screws
Latitude
51.41° N
Longitude
8.55° W
Water body
Celtic Sea
Protection regime
Protected under Irish law (National Monuments Acts; Underwater Heritage Order). Diving on or near the site requires a licence issued by the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government, administered by the National Monuments Service.
Artefact restrictions
Strict - no artefact removal
Permit details
A licence issued by the Minister for Housing, Heritage and Local Government (National Monuments Service) is required for diving, survey or salvage within the restricted area around the wreck (Marine Notice No. 41 of 2024).
Restrictions
No artefact removal.
War grave
Yes
Protected
Yes
Permit required
Yes
Condition
Broken
Orientation
Starboard side down
Seabed
Mud 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.

  • 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.
  • © Marine Institute. 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 RMS Lusitania?

RMS Lusitania is the wreck of a passenger liner, off Cork, Ireland, at 93 metres. RMS Lusitania was torpedoed in 1915.

How deep is the RMS Lusitania?

RMS Lusitania lies at 87 to 93 metres, 11 nautical miles south of Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork.

How did the RMS Lusitania sink?

RMS Lusitania was torpedoed on May 7th, 1915 during World War I, off Cork, Ireland. 1,198 people lost their lives.

Is the RMS Lusitania protected?

Yes. RMS Lusitania is protected: Underwater Heritage Order under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987 (National Monuments Service); protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service). RMS Lusitania is recorded as a war grave.