Also known as: Polwell, SS Polewell
Not all U-boat captains were merciless. On 5 June 1918, SM U-96 surfaced three nautical miles northeast of Lambay Island and fired a warning shot across the bows of the SS Polwell, a British cargo steamer carrying coal from Troon to France. The crew of 30 abandoned ship in two lifeboats. Only then did the submarine fire a single shot amidships, sinking the Polwell. All crew survived, landing at Rockabill lighthouse off Skerries an hour later. The wreck at approximately 30 metres is broken into three sections, with the bow detached from the rest of the vessel. Surveyed by INFOMAR as part of marine heritage documentation of WWI wrecks in the western Irish Sea. An 86.6-metre coal carrier with an unexpectedly humane story.
On 5 June 1918, the SS Polwell was approaching the Irish coast carrying coal from Troon to France when SM U-96 surfaced and fired a warning shot across her bows. The crew of 30 abandoned ship in two lifeboats. The submarine then fired a single shot amidships, sinking the Polwell. All crew survived and reached Rockabill lighthouse off Skerries within an hour. Unlike many WWI sinkings, the submarine captain allowed the crew to evacuate before sinking the vessel.
SS Polwell is a cargo vessel wreck located off Dublin, Ireland at a depth of 30 metres. The vessel was lost due to gunfire in 1918. The wreck is diveable.
SS Polwell lies at approximately 30 metres depth, 3 nautical miles northeast of Lambay Island, 8km NE of Lambay.
SS Polwell was sunk by gunfire on 5 June 1918 during World War I, off Dublin, Ireland. 0 people lost their lives.
Diving the SS Polwell is rated advanced and is requires an Advanced Open Water certification with wreck diving experience.
The best months to dive SS Polwell are May, June, July, August, September, October. Water temperature ranges from 7.5°C in winter to 14.5°C in summer.
SS Polwell is accessed by boat from Skerries, Dublin, Ireland.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8.0°C | 3.0m | poor | low |
| Feb | 7.5°C | 3.0m | poor | low |
| Mar | 8.0°C | 4.0m | poor | low |
| Apr | 9.5°C | 5.0m | marginal | moderate |
| May | 11.0°C | 7.0m | good | good |
| Jun | 12.5°C | 8.0m | good | good |
| Jul | 14.0°C | 9.0m | good | high |
| Aug | 14.5°C | 9.0m | good | high |
| Sep | 13.5°C | 8.0m | good | good |
| Oct | 12.0°C | 6.0m | good | good |
| Nov | 10.0°C | 4.0m | marginal | low |
| Dec | 8.5°C | 3.0m | poor | low |
5 evidence records from 5 sources.
Western Irish Sea, off Dublin, northeast of Lambay Island
Wreck broken into 3 sections with bow section detached. Documented by INFOMAR multibeam survey.
Shelled and sunk by German submarine NE of Lambay Island, 5 June 1918. Crew of 30 survived.
Torpedoed & sank 8km NE of Lambay Island. Ship was 86.56 metres in length, lies 29.8m deep.
INFOMAR survey revealed detailed images of WWI wrecks including the Polwell off Lambay Island.
3 nautical miles northeast of Lambay Island, 8km NE of Lambay