Cargo vessel · 1912–1954 · Argyll, United Kingdom

SS Hispania

Also known as Hispania.

SS Hispania, a Swedish cargo vessel built in 1912 and grounded in 1954, lies at 15–32 metres off Argyll, United Kingdom.

In December 1954 the Swedish cargo steamer Hispania ran onto Sgeir Mor reef in the Sound of Mull, and she came to rest upright with hardly any list, just inshore of the channel marker. More than sixty years under water have turned her into a garden of marine growth: plumose anemones, dead-man's fingers and bright, jewel-like tunicates cover every surface of her.

Her holds still stand open, with what is left of her cargo of sheet metal and rubber lying inside, and her engine room survives.

Type
Cargo vesselSwedish
Year built
1912Antwerp Engineering Co Ltd, Hoboken, Belgium (Yard No. 59)
Lost
December 18th, 1954Grounding
Casualties
0
Tonnage
1,337 GRTsteam
Length
72.14 m11.35 m beam
Depth
15–32 m
Location
Argyll, United KingdomInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland

5 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.

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

  • Depth: 32 m shown; range in sources 30–32 m. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).

History and LossLost December 18th, 1954 · Grounding · Argyll, United Kingdom.

Ran aground on Sgeir Mor reef in poor conditions while transiting the Sound of Mull. Cargo was later salvaged, but the vessel settled on the seabed and was never raised.

Built 1912 by Antwerp Engineering Co Ltd, Hoboken, Belgium (Yard No. 59); 42 years in service, also recorded as Hispania. Lost December 18th, 1954, grounding.

0lives lost on December 18th, 1954.

The Voyage

Cargo
Sheet metal, asbestos, rubber, fishing line

Condition of the WreckIntact, lying upright with slight starboard list, in 15–32 m, on rocky reef and sand.

Intactness

Effectively intact, sits upright on the seabed. Hull and superstructure densely covered in plumose anemones, dead-mans fingers, tunicates and hydroids — a kaleidoscope of colour.

Notable Features

  • Dense anemone and tunicate covering
  • Normally buoyed for easy location
  • Shallow deck at 15m

Additional Details14 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
Swedish
Flag
Sweden
Builder
Antwerp Engineering Co Ltd, Hoboken, Belgium (Yard No. 59)
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
December 18th, 1954
Latitude
56.5821° N
Longitude
5.9869° W
Water body
Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
War grave
No
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Intact
Orientation
Upright with slight starboard list
Seabed
Rocky reef 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.

  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Historic Environment Scotland.
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.

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 Hispania?

SS Hispania is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Argyll, United Kingdom, at 32 metres. SS Hispania ran aground and was wrecked in 1954.

How deep is the SS Hispania?

SS Hispania lies at 15 to 32 metres, Sound of Mull, inshore of the red channel marker near Sgeir Mor reef.

How did the SS Hispania sink?

SS Hispania ran aground and was wrecked on December 18th, 1954, off Argyll, United Kingdom. No lives were lost.