Cargo vessel · 1899–1916 · Cork, Ireland

SS Alondra

Survivors were lowered down a 45-metre cliff face. When the SS Alondra ran aground on Kedge Rock off Baltimore in dense fog on 29 December 1916, sixteen of her 40 crew drowned taking to a ship's boat. The Baltimore lifeboat launched twice but couldn't reach the vessel. At daylight, rescuers arrived with rocket apparatus and two Royal Navy trawlers.

Together they saved 23 men -- Archdeacon Becher and Lieutenant Sanderson each received the RNLI Silver Medal for Gallantry. Built in 1899 for the Rio Tinto Company, the 2,500 GRT steel steamship now offers multiple depth zones from 6 metres (forecastle with anchor winches) down to 46 metres (stern section), with prominent boilers at 20 metres surrounded by hull plating that houses large conger eels.

Type
Cargo vesselBritish
Year built
1899David J. Dunlop, Port Glasgow, Scotland
Lost
December 29th, 1916Grounding
Casualties
17
Tonnage
2,500 GRTsteam
Length
91 m12 m beam
Depth
6–46 m
Location
Cork, IrelandCeltic Sea

4 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 144 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

History and LossLost December 29th, 1916 · Grounding · Cork, Ireland.

Dense fog and bad weather lay over the coast on 29 December 1916 when the Alondra, with 40 crew aboard, went ashore on Kedge Rocks off Baltimore. Sixteen of her men got into a ship's boat and drowned, and another died aboard her. Twice the Baltimore lifeboat put out, and twice the conditions kept it from reaching her.

At first light rescuers went out with rocket apparatus and two Royal Navy trawlers came up; between them they brought 23 men to safety, some of them lowered down a cliff face 45 metres high.

Built 1899 by David J. Dunlop, Port Glasgow, Scotland; 17 years in service. Lost December 29th, 1916, grounding.

17lives lost on December 29th, 1916.

Condition of the WreckBroken, in 6–46 m.

Intactness

She came to rest on the rocks between 5m and 46m and is well broken up over that wide range of depths. At the shallow end, the forecastle and its anchor winches reach up to 6m. At approximately 20m her boilers still stand out, ringed by a good deal of hull plating, while the stern section at 46m continues to break apart and is exposing her machinery.

Notable Features

  • Multiple depth zones from 6m to 46m
  • Prominent boilers at 20m
  • Impressive anchor winches at 6m on forecastle
  • Large conger eels in hull plating
  • RNLI Silver Medal rescue — survivors lowered down 45m cliff
  • Originally built for Rio Tinto Company

Regulations and Restrictions

Protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).

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

Nationality
British
Flag
United Kingdom
Builder
David J. Dunlop, Port Glasgow, Scotland
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
December 29th, 1916
Latitude
51.46° N
Longitude
9.35° W
Water body
Celtic Sea
War grave
No
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Broken

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.
  • © Marine Institute. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

A further 5 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 SS Alondra?

SS Alondra is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Cork, Ireland, at 46 metres. SS Alondra ran aground and was wrecked in 1916.

How deep is the SS Alondra?

SS Alondra lies at 6 to 46 metres, Kedge Rock, off Baltimore, West Cork.

How did the SS Alondra sink?

SS Alondra ran aground and was wrecked on December 29th, 1916, off Cork, Ireland. 17 people lost their lives.

Is the SS Alondra protected?

Yes. SS Alondra is protected: protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).