Cargo vessel · 1884–1917 · Donegal, Ireland

SS Carthaginian

Also known as Carthaginian.

The SS Carthaginian set out for Montreal but got no further than Malin Head. A steel steamship of 4,444 GRT belonging to the Allan Line, she had been built in 1884 by the Govan Shipbuilding Co. for the run between Glasgow and Montreal; she was 116 metres long and 21 metres across, with room for 596 passengers and a crew of 57.

On 14 June 1917, about 2.5 miles northwest of Inishtrahull Lighthouse, she ran onto a mine sown by the German submarine U-79. Her wreck rests at around 58 metres and lies fairly flat, rising no more than 4.3 metres from the bottom. She is one of a remarkable cluster of wrecks off Malin Head, on this stretch of the Donegal coast.

Type
Cargo vesselBritish
Year built
1884
Lost
June 14th, 1917Mine
Casualties
0
Tonnage
4,444 GRTsteam
Length
116 m21 m beam
Depth
50–58 m
Location
Donegal, IrelandInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland

5 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 160 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

History and LossLost June 14th, 1917 · Mine · Donegal, Ireland.

Outward bound from Glasgow for Montreal on 14 June 1917, the SS Carthaginian hit a mine about 2.5 miles northwest of Inishtrahull Lighthouse, close to Malin Head at the northernmost point of the Donegal coast. The German submarine U-79 had put it there, one of a field of mines meant to catch Allied ships passing through the North Channel.

Built 1884; 33 years in service, also recorded as Carthaginian. Lost June 14th, 1917, mine.

0lives lost on June 14th, 1917.

The Voyage

Cargo
Cattle and general cargo

Condition of the WreckBroken, in 50–58 m.

Intactness

Wreck measures 116m length, 21m width, maximum height 4.3m above seabed, average height 2.1m. Broken up but identifiable structure remains.

Notable Features

  • Allan Line passenger/cargo vessel
  • Mined by U-79 off Inishtrahull
  • Part of Malin Head wreck cluster
  • Capacity for 596 passengers in three classes

Regulations and Restrictions

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

Additional Details11 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
British
Flag
United Kingdom
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
June 14th, 1917
Latitude
55.43° N
Longitude
7.40° W
Water body
Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
War grave
No
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Broken

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

  • INFOMAR Shipwrecks © Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

A further 3 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 Carthaginian?

SS Carthaginian is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Donegal, Ireland, at 58 metres. SS Carthaginian struck a mine in 1917.

How deep is the SS Carthaginian?

SS Carthaginian lies at 50 to 58 metres, Off Malin Head, County Donegal.

How did the SS Carthaginian sink?

SS Carthaginian struck a mine on June 14th, 1917, off Donegal, Ireland. No lives were lost.

Is the SS Carthaginian protected?

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