Iron steamship · lost 1918 · Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom
ROMEO
The Romeo, an iron steamship built by Earle’s Shipbuilding and Eng’g Co. in 1881, initially served under T Wilson and Sons Ltd., Hull. She was equipped to carry both first and second class passengers and was powered by a compound steam engine. In 1917, she became part of the Ellerman Wilson Line Ltd. During World War I, she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and tasked with delivering provisions to the British fleet.
On 3rd March 1918, while returning to Liverpool in ballast, she was deceived by a German submarine's ruse and torpedoed, causing her to sink rapidly. Of her crew, only three survived. Today, the wreck of the Romeo lies broken in the Solway Firth, with notable features including boilers and a mast. The site is often subject to low visibility due to the muddy seabed.
Type
Iron steamship
Lost
1918Explosion
Tonnage
1,730 GRTsteam
Length
150 m
Depth
48 mTechnical grade
Minimum cert.
Confirm with a local operator
Location
Dumfries and Galloway, United KingdomSolway Firth
6 of 7 facts above are cited in Sources below.
History and LossLost 1918 · Explosion · Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom.
Lost 1918, explosion.
Condition of the WreckBroken.
Notable Features
Boilers
Bow section
Mast
A reference and a starting point, not a dive plan. Plan any dive with a local professional who knows the site and the conditions on the day.
Depth, Access and DifficultyGraded Technical · Certification unverified.
Open water 33Advanced 34Deep 36Technical 25Trimix 15
18304060140
Seasonal Conditions
Seasonality for ROMEO: water temperature, typical visibility, surface access and marine life, by month.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Water temp
9.6°
8.4°
7.9°
8.6°
10.2°
12.3°
14.1°
14.9°
14.7°
13.9°
12.8°
11.1°
Visibility
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Additional Details7 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
Builder
Earle’s Shipbuilding and Eng’g Co
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
1918
Latitude
54.3724° N
Longitude
4.8666° W
Water body
Solway Firth
Condition
Broken
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
SS Cork48 m, technical, cargo vessel SS Formby50 m, technical, cargo vessel SS Alondra46 m, technical, cargo vessel ILV Isolda50 m, technical, lighthouse tender
Iron steamships
AUSTRIA20 m, intermediate, iron steamship EUROPA34 m, advanced, iron steamship GLENISLA46 m, technical, iron steamship
Technical Dives
BELLEVUE56 m, technical, craft BEN VEG41 m, technical, steel steamship GLENISLA46 m, technical, iron steamship HMS Pathfinder62 m, technical, warship
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ROMEO?
ROMEO is a iron steamship wreck located off Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom at a depth of 48 metres. The vessel was lost due to explosion in 1918. The wreck is diveable.
How deep is the ROMEO?
ROMEO lies at approximately 48 metres depth, Solway Firth, Dumfries and Galloway.
How did the ROMEO sink?
ROMEO was lost due to explosion on 1918, off Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom.
What certification do you need to dive the ROMEO?
As reported, diving the ROMEO is rated technical and is requires technical diving qualifications including decompression procedures. Minimum certification: Confirm with a local operator. A reference and a starting point, not a dive plan. Plan any dive with a local professional who knows the site and the conditions on the day.
48 m
48 m at the deepest — deeper than 117 of the 143 diveable wrecks in this database, past the technical threshold.