SS VIRAGO
SS Virago
In early July 1882, the steamer SS Virago left its home port of Hull with a vital cargo of agricultural machinery for the Black Sea port of Odessa. After passing down the English Channel it mysteriously vanished without trace, with the loss of the entire crew – that is, until the Guernsey dive team led by Richard Keen found the remarkably well-preserved wreck in the Alderney Race, just two miles ESE of the island. As research into the ship, its cargo and crew progresses, we look forward eagerly to the next presentation by the team.
When legendary Guernsey diver Richard Keen telephoned THEMT trustee, Colin Partridge, in late September 2022 to announce the discovery of a previously unidentified late 19th mystery shipwreck, lying at a depth of 45 metres in the Alderney Race, little did they realise the full extent of the fascinating and tragic story of the loss of the SS Virago and her entire crew which would be revealed through ongoing research.
In pursuit of Richard's wish to announce the discovery in Alderney, the Trust immediately agreed to promote the first public presentation on 5th November, at which the Trust's new patron, Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell would be present to congratulate the dive team on their work.
Such was the public response and interest generated by radio, press and TV interviews beforehand, that two showings of the stunning underwater video and commentary on the initial documentary research would be arranged on the same day. As the story continues to unfold, the Trust will look to a follow-up presentation in the near future at a date to be announced.
Alderney Race mystery wreck revealed in 2022
For over 140 years, the fate and location of the ship that lay wrecked on the seabed some two miles east of Alderney in the treacherous waters of the Raz Blanchard - the scene of many a maritime loss over the previous centuries - remained a mystery up to, and after, its discovery.
The wreck was first discovered in 2009 by Osiris Projects Ltd. during a detailed multi-beam seabed survey carried out for Alderney Renewable Energy Ltd. in pursuit of the proposed tidal energy project.
In the subsequent UK Hydrographic Office report, the wreck was listed No. 79335, of unknown name, upright with the centre collapsed, and categorised as non-dangerous to shipping.
Its position was pin-pointed at Latitude 49°41,759'N and Longitude 02°08,882'W in the Alderney Race.
Then, in the summer of 2022, divers led by Richard Keen, made the first of several descents to a depth of over 40m to examine what they first expected to be a World War I wreck. Imagine their surprise when they finally surveyed the well-preserved remains of an iron-hulled ship, some 86m in length with an extremely interesting cargo.
Initial research in the standard wrecklists failed to identify the name of the vessel, and it was only after more detailed investigation of regional and national archives that Richard and the team finally solved the mystery. It was the SS Virago of Hull, lost with all hands and without trace on 3rd June
1882. A subsequent inquiry failed to establish the cause or location of the wreck, although two empty lifeboats bearing the ship's name, found floating with other wreckage several miles northeast of Alderney in the English Channel days after its disappearance appeared to confirm the total, tragic loss of the ship, its captain John Stephens and the crew of 26.
The SS Virago was built in 1871 by the largest shipbuilding yard on the Humber called Earle's Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd. (Yard No. 138). It was one of four passenger/cargo vessels built of iron, of just over 1,800 tons with a single-screw, compound steam engine, designed to transit the newly built Suez Canal for the Wilson Line of Hull.
Thomas Wilson, Sons & Co. Ltd., founded in 1841, was an immensely successful British-based shipping line, described by The Times as "the largest privately-owned shipping line in the world" with over 100 steamers grossing 120,000 tons at the turn of the 19th century.
On its ill-fated voyage from Hull, SS Virago sailed on 31$ May 1882 carrying 1,000 tons of machinery and 700 tons of coal, bound for Constantinople and Odessa.
It was sighted passing Dover at 6am the following day before mysteriously disappearing.
At first a collision was suggested, but this proved to be groundless and the subsequent Board of Trade inquiry failed to establish the cause.
Richard has his own idea on why the vessel should have foundered and its loss be unrecorded, which led him to the archives of Lloyds of London kept at the Guildhall Library. In so doing, he has revealed the extent of its fascinating cargo of agricultural equipment bound for Ukraine - static steam engines and other machinery manufactured by Clayton & Shuttleworth of Lincoln.
Now that the wreck has been positively identified, the story of the loss of SS Virago can be told in full. Richard and his team intend to pursue their research with their objective being to provide a full crew list. While this may prove to be a challenge, Alderney will now be irrevocably linked to the port of Hull, where Richard will use all means available to track down the descendants of those who lost their lives in the Alderney Race in 1882.
The Trustees of The Henry Euler Memorial Trust will look to support Richard Keen and his team from Bailiwick of Guernsey Shipwrecks in this worthy endeavour, and to chronicle the full story of The Ship that vanished in the Alderney Race!
Trustee, Colin Partridge, introduces the first morning presentation.
The Alderney Cinema was filled to capacity for the occasion.
'JP' Fallaize opens the proceedings watched by Richard Keen (right).
Trust patron, General Richard Cripwell and his wife, are enthralled.
Dive leader Richard Keen describes the features of SS Virago.
General Cripwell congratulates the dive team on their presentation.