The Wreck Office at the United Kingdom Hydrographic Department and overseas hydrographic offices

Wreck Office The examination and recording of wreck information. 

• The initiation of Notices to Mariners.
• The implementation of Hydrographic Instructions so that HM surveying ships can pursue an annual planned programme of wreck sweeping and searching.

The maintenance of a wreck information service for commercial, private, MOD (Royal Navy) and other Government department enquiries. All marine casualties that occur in continental shelf areas are considered, with the following geographical exceptions:

• United States coastal waters, including Alaska, the Aleutian and the Hawaiian Islands.
• Australian coastal waters where the Hydrographic Department has reciprocal charting arrangements with the Australian and New Zealand Hydrographic Authorities.

Marine casualties in deep waters are not completely ignored, but generally only information that can be easily assimilated into the recording system is considered, i.e. where a sinking position (definite or approximate) is known.

information service the section uses a geographical card index which contains the histories of approximately 70,000 wrecks. 

An alphabetical index is also used and this contains the names and positions of approximately 15,000 wrecks and provides another method of determining the history of a wreck when only the name is known. 

For any inquiry, the Section attempts to provide the following details of each wreck:

positive geographical location or reported sinking position by latitude and longitude. 

• name
• nationality
• type
• tonnage
• dimensions
• details of date lost
• cargo at time of loss
• owners at time of loss
• least Depth over wreck
• depth in scour (if any)
• Decca co-ordinates for details of fix at or over the wreck
• orientation of wreck
• latest survey authority and date

It should be noted that if a wreck has not been positively identified by a responsible authority, then the best available information may only consist of an approximate position and the date that the wreck was first recorded.

It should also be noted that the card index commenced in 1913 and is therefore of little value for information concerning any casualty that occurred prior to this century, although wrecks of archaeological interest are now being recorded.

The details of all known wrecks around the British Isles are contained in a computer data bank within the Hydrographic Department. All the wrecks are stored in latitude and longitude order and are supplied to customers in the form of a computer printout (see attachment) together with an abbreviation sheet. 

Only a few wrecks have details of observed Decca readings. However, due to the popular demand for Decca positions it has been possible to compute theoretical Decca readings which have been added to the existing records for the benefit of all enquiries. 

Any member of the general public who wishes to obtain wreck information is advised to use the following procedure: 

1. Purchase a copy of either the Home or World Edition of the Catalogue of Admiralty Charts from any chart agent and select and obtain the largest scale chart available for the geographical area of interest.
2. Establish the position of any wrecks of interest and latitude and longitude as shown on the Admiralty Chart or give name and approximate location, or decide on the area of interest- see below: 

a. 6.4 Metre wreck in position 54 11’23”N, 01’59”E on chart 1929. 

b. SS St Anchester in Lyme Bay, South Coast England. 

c. All wrecks within 52 00’00”N, 07 56’00W, 08 43’34”W.

d. All wrecks within 20 metres between Minehead and Watchet. 

e. All wrecks within 15 miles of the coast between Flamborough Head and Whitby. 

Search fees, for providing the above information, will normally have to be prepaid, the fee being commensurate with the work involved. The current rate of VAT will also be added to all search fees customers residing in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Quotations for providing the wreck information required will be dispatched in receipt of the initial request. 

Remittance for accepted quotations should be made by cheque or postal order (Bank Transfer of International Money Order for customers abroad) and made payable to the Hydrographic Department, Taunton. 

The Wreck Office is continually trying to update and correct its records, from all sources, for the benefit of all users. To this end we welcome additional or correctional material to amend our records from anyone requesting wreck information and are authorised to reduce or waive search fees for subsequent enquiries for this service, if information received has proved of value.

Wrecks in other parts of the world are listed, also latitude and longitude order, on the index cards. Details of any of these wrecks are usually sent in the form of photocopies of these cards, or typewritten lists if the numbers are few. Please note that there are no wreck charts that are available to the general public. However, all wrecks that are of navigational significance are shown on the largest scale Admiralty charts- those that are uncharted can be plotted onto charts using the latitude and longitude.

Researchers should check availability, accessibility and opening times with the repositories listed before making a personal visit. 

Lloyd’s Register Foundation, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as ‘Lloyd’s Register’. Lloyd’s Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Lloyd’s Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.