This page is an entry in Shonas Wreck Guide.

Sketch of wreck on seabed

SS Kintuck

Type: Steel Screw steamer, Schooner rigged
Builders: Workman Clark & Co. Belfast
Yard No: 122
Completed:1895
Dim: 410ft x 48.1 x 27.4 ft
Tonnage: 4639gt
Engines: Triple expansion (28" 47" 77-60",180lb), 600nhp
Boilers: 2
Arm: 1 stern mounted 4.72 QF
Owner: Blue Funnel Line
Manager: China Mutual Steam Nav Co Ltd (Alfred Holt & Co, LiverPool)
Flag: British
Port of Registry: Liverpool
Lloyd's Class: +100A1
Voyage: London -> Barry Roads (in Ballast)
Official Number: 105749
Signal Code: PCKR
Captain: Joseph Edmunson (November 1917 - 3/12/1917)
Crew: 58
Crew Lost: 1

HISTORY

Fate: Sunk 13:25 02 December 1917 by a mine or torpedo from UC17, 8 miles NW by N 1/2 N from Godrevy Light.
Position: 50 14.44N 05 31.94W (Decca 1991)
Depth: 32m-35m

The Wreck Today

The wreck now lies with a slight list to port, Bows pointing East towards St Ives. The vessel is very well flattened apart from the Bows and the boilers/engine area. The Engine is very broken and lying on its port side, almost unrecognisable amidst the general rubble of the wreck. The bow section stands upright, looking like the spire of a cathedral when spotted from a distance. To the SW of the engine, a vast collection of condensor tubes are strewn about the seabed - a result of the salvage work done in the early 70's.

Photo of the Kintuck underway

The seabed around the wreck is of golden sand, reflecting a lot of light, making the visibility on the wreck seem better than that of mid-water. Towards the stern, the prop-shaft ends abruptly as the sand gives out to a shallow rocky reef. There is the odd piece of wreckage on the reef, but nothing substantial within swimming distance.

Portholes are scattered over the site, with many still remaining. These are of good quality with heavy thick doors. Most of the portholes recovered were 'plated' on the outside of the hull, presumeably to prevent the ship flooding if they were broken. As a result, there are still a number of complete intact portholes in the hull plating - they're just very hard to 'see'.

The stern of the vessel lies some way off - not yet found by myself despite swimming around the site in 30m vis. This would be best searched for using a boat and sounder. Don't get you hopes up though - the wreck was discovered and the prop blown and salvaged in the early 70's by a couple of crawfish divers.

Diving must be carried out at slack water (approx 1hour before HW/LW Milford Haven). The tide can race over the wreck making progress along the remains a very exhausting experience.

Drawing of the 'Pak Ling' - sister ship to the Kintuck