Cargo vessel · lost 1917 · Cornwall, United Kingdom
SS Volnay
Also known as Volnay.
If there is a gateway wreck on the Lizard Peninsula, the Volnay is it. A German mine from UC-64 ended her war service in December 1917 while she carried Canadian ammunition south past the Manacles. Her two great boilers now anchor the site, rising from silty sand that conceals wooden ammunition boxes, scattered bollards, and chain.
Pink sea fans have colonised the higher wreckage, adding unexpected colour to a scene that might otherwise be all rust and silt.
- Type
- Cargo vesselBritish
- Lost
- December 14th, 1917Mine
- Tonnage
- 4,610 GRTsteam
- Length
- 117 m
- Depth
- 18–22 m
- Location
- Cornwall, United KingdomEnglish Channel
1 of 6 facts above is cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 59 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
History and LossLost December 14th, 1917 · Mine · World War I · Cornwall, United Kingdom.
She was a defensively armed merchant ship, inbound from Canada with ammunition and general freight aboard, when she ran onto a mine sown by the German submarine UC-64, two miles east-by-south of the Manacles, off Porthallow.
Lost December 14th, 1917, mine during World War I.
The Voyage
- Cargo
- Ammunition and general cargo from Canada
Condition of the WreckBroken, in 18–22 m.
Intactness
Well broken up with large sections remaining. Two massive boilers are the main feature. Covered in fine silty sand. Bollards, winches, chain, and wooden ammunition boxes scattered around the site.
Notable Features
- Two massive boilers
- Scattered ammunition boxes
- Pink sea fans on wreckage
- Bollards and winches
Additional Details12 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Nationality
- British
- Flag
- United Kingdom
- Propulsion
- Steam
- Loss date
- December 14th, 1917
- Conflict / event
- World War I
- Latitude
- 50.07° N
- Longitude
- 5.07° W
- Water body
- English Channel
- War grave
- No
- Protected
- No
- Permit required
- No
- Condition
- Broken
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- UK Hydrographic Officedatahub.admiralty.co.uk · Official record6 facts
- Submergedsubmerged.co.uk · Secondary source1 fact
- Divernetdivernet.com · Club or operator1 fact
- Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.
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 Volnay?
SS Volnay is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Cornwall, United Kingdom, at 22 metres. SS Volnay struck a mine in 1917.
How deep is the SS Volnay?
SS Volnay lies at 18 to 22 metres, Two miles east of the Manacles, off Porthallow, Lizard Peninsula.
How did the SS Volnay sink?
SS Volnay struck a mine on December 14th, 1917 during World War I, off Cornwall, United Kingdom.