Cargo vessel · 1914–1918 · Donegal, Ireland

SS Castle Eden

Torpedoed, then shelled 20 times by the surfaced U-boat for good measure. The SS Castle Eden, a 1,949 GRT steam collier fitted with a 13-pounder stern gun, departed Glasgow at 3:30am on 4 March 1918 carrying 2,900 tons of coal and timber for the Royal Navy at Lough Swilly. SM UB-110 torpedoed her engine room, then surfaced and pummelled the stricken ship with 20 shells. Remarkably, all crew survived.

The wreck at 31-32 metres in Culdaff Bay off Malin Head is broken to seabed level by Atlantic groundswell, but rewards patient exploration. INFOMAR has produced a 3D model. Featured in Divernet Wreck Tour No. 111.

Type
Cargo vesselBritish
Year built
1914Irvine Shipbuilding Co., West Hartlepool
Lost
March 4th, 1918Torpedo
Casualties
0World War I
Tonnage
1,949 GRTsteam
Length
86.3 m
Depth
31–32 m
Location
Donegal, IrelandInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland

4 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 100 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

History and LossLost March 4th, 1918 · Torpedo · World War I · Donegal, Ireland.

Loaded with 2,900 tons of coal and timber for the Royal Navy, she sailed from Glasgow for Lough Swilly at 3:30am on 4 March 1918. SM UB-110 torpedoed her, the hit landing in her engine room, then came to the surface and put 20 shells into her. Her only defence was a 13-pounder gun mounted at the stern. Every member of the crew survived.

Built 1914 by Irvine Shipbuilding Co., West Hartlepool; 4 years in service. Lost March 4th, 1918, torpedo during World War I.

0lives lost on March 4th, 1918.

The Voyage

Cargo
2,900 tons of coal and timber

Condition of the WreckBroken, in 31–32 m.

Intactness

Deep North Atlantic groundswell has worn the wreck down to seabed level, though her bow, boilers and stern still stand out clearly on an echo-sounder. The boilers have held together reasonably well, and conger eels live in the gaps in their plating. Her triple-expansion steam engine has snapped and toppled to starboard, and the greenhouse-style hatches that ventilated the engine room have come down too.

Where the propeller shaft parted as the hull collapsed, a stub of it lies exposed. Two pairs of bollards and a long winch spindle have dropped from the port stern. A large steering quadrant remains, set with the rudder straight ahead.

Notable Features

  • INFOMAR 3D model available on Sketchfab
  • Boilers with dense shoal of pouting and conger eels
  • Triple-expansion steam engine fallen to starboard
  • Greenhouse-like ventilation hatches from engine room
  • Propeller shaft stub
  • Bollards, winches and long spindle from port stern
  • Large steering quadrant at stern
  • Fitted with 13-pounder stern gun
  • Featured in Divernet Wreck Tour #111
  • Surfaced U-boat fired 20 shells after torpedo hit

Regulations and Restrictions

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

Additional Details13 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
British
Flag
United Kingdom
Builder
Irvine Shipbuilding Co., West Hartlepool
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
March 4th, 1918
Conflict / event
World War I
Latitude
55.32° N
Longitude
7.05° 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.

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.

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 SS Castle Eden?

SS Castle Eden is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Donegal, Ireland, at 32 metres. SS Castle Eden was torpedoed in 1918.

How deep is the SS Castle Eden?

SS Castle Eden lies at 31 to 32 metres, Culdaff Bay, off Malin Head, Inishowen.

How did the SS Castle Eden sink?

SS Castle Eden was torpedoed on March 4th, 1918 during World War I, off Donegal, Ireland. No lives were lost.

Is the SS Castle Eden protected?

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