SS Port Kembla Shipwreck
'Port Kembla'
Our first project of 2007 was to dive the Port Kembla. This cargo ship sank
in 1917 after striking a mine
off Cape Farewell laid by the German surface raider SMS Wolf. Although it's location has been
known
for quite some time, it sits in 95 metres of water which means it's too deep for conventional scuba
diving.
The Port Kembla had left Wellington 11 days after the mines had been laid and missed
hitting the
mines as it left for Australia. In fact all shipping for 3 months missed them because it wasn't until
the
Port Kembla returned on her way to England via Wellington, that she hit a mine and sank.
Her main
cargo was lead, food stuffs including thousands of boxes of frozen rabbits, and a large quantity of
mail.
On the 10th and 11th of February 2007, two sucessful dives were carried out to 95 metres. The visibility
was about 30 metres on the bottom and as the sky was clear and sunny, ambient light was such that
good video was able to be taken even without a light source. Several dinner plates were found
with the Commonwealth & Dominion Line logo on them proving this was the Port Kembla.
The
shipwreck itself was lying on its port side but the entire structure had collapsed in on itself. The
dives
themselves were so good in such clear water that we will return to explore more of the wreck.
Photo of a German mine from the Cape Farewell minefield washed up on a North Island
beach. Several mines were found washed up at Foxton, Otaki, and Mokau beaches.
Video of TV3 item about the first ever dive on the Port Kembla
Photo of Ship's Bell April 2008 after being cleaned up.
Video of the recovered bell being cleaned showing 'Port Kembla' on the bell.
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