SS Varvassi
SS Varvassi is a wrecked ship just off the Needles lighthouse, which is at the western end of the Isle of Wight. The ship crashed about 150 metres west of the lighthouse. The Isle of Wight is off the South coast of England, near Southampton. Varvassi was a 3,875-ton Greek merchant steamship that was wrecked on the Needles rocks in 1947. It was carrying a cargo of tangerines from Algiers to Southampton. The ship became wrecked after an engine failure in stormy weather, and drifted onto the rocks. When an attempt was made to haul the ship off the rocks, she flooded and sank. All 36 crew were rescued unharmed, as was approximately one third of the cargo of tangerines and wine. There are still remains of the wreck lying just below the surface. Some parts of the wreck can be seen at very low tides. The wreck constitutes a hazard to small craft that attempt to sail too close to the lighthouse. Any race around the Island has to face the obstacle of the Varvassi wreck site. Yacht racers see the passage between Varvassi and Goose Rock as a shortcut, many however miscalculate this. On 20 July 2023, the UK registered motor vessel Channel Queen grounded as it passed over the Varvassi wreck near the Needles lighthouse, Isle of Wight, England while escorting a relay swim event around the island. Channel Queen was then deliberately beached in nearby Scratchell's Bay. Channel Queen was a total loss, and some on board suffered minor injuries.
| History | |
|---|---|
| Launched | 19 November 1914 |
| Fate | Wrecked 5 January 1947[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cargo ship |
| Tonnage | 3,875 GRT |
SS Varvassi is a wrecked ship just off the Needles lighthouse, which is at the western end of the Isle of Wight. The ship crashed about 150 metres west of the lighthouse.[2] The Isle of Wight is off the South coast of England, near Southampton.
Varvassi was a 3,875-ton Greek merchant steamship that was wrecked on the Needles rocks in 1947. It was carrying a cargo of tangerines from Algiers to Southampton. The ship became wrecked after an engine failure in stormy weather, and drifted onto the rocks. When an attempt was made to haul the ship off the rocks, she flooded and sank. All 36 crew were rescued unharmed, as was approximately one third of the cargo of tangerines and wine.
There are still remains of the wreck lying just below the surface. Some parts of the wreck can be seen at very low tides. The wreck constitutes a hazard to small craft that attempt to sail too close to the lighthouse.
Any race around the Island has to face the obstacle of the Varvassi wreck site. Yacht racers see the passage between Varvassi and Goose Rock as a shortcut, many however miscalculate this.[3]
On 20 July 2023, the UK registered motor vessel Channel Queen grounded as it passed over the Varvassi wreck near the Needles lighthouse, Isle of Wight, England while escorting a relay swim event around the island. Channel Queen was then deliberately beached in nearby Scratchell's Bay. Channel Queen was a total loss, and some on board suffered minor injuries.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Archived copy". needles.shalfleet.net. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Hunting the wreck of the SS Varvassi off the Needles on the Isle of Wight". Yachting World. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ "Hunting the wreck of the SS Varvassi off the Needles on the Isle of Wight". Yachting World. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- ^ Grounding and loss of the motor vessel Channel Queen near the Needles, Isle of Wight, England on 20 July 2023 (PDF). Marine Accident Investigation Branch (Report). July 2024.
External links
[edit]- "The Wreck of the Varvassi". 28 July 2010. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012.
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