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Hunting New England Shipwrecks

Port Nicholson

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Steamer Port Nicholson
(Uboat.net)

 

The table below provides historical and statistical data on the vessel. Some of the information may be incomplete. If you have additions or corrections, please e-mail us at the address listed below.

Shipwreck Data

Vessel Name Port Nicholson
Other Names  
Vessel Type Freighter - British Merchant Ship
Owner Port Line Ltd., London
Length / Beam / Draft (feet) 481' / 62' / 
Tonnage 8,402
Hull Construction Iron
Propulsion Steam / Screw
Cargo Automobile parts and military stores
Built 1919 at Hebburn-on-Tyne, England (Hawthorn, Leslie & Co., Ltd.)
Date of Loss June 16, 1942
Reason for Loss Torpedoed by German submarine U-87, while traveling in convoy XB-25
Fatalities 6 (85 survivors)
Location Off Cape Cod, MA - 30 miles east of Provincetown
Coordinates (Lat/Lon) 42-11 N / 69-25 W (uboat.net)
Coordinates (Loran C)  
Water Depth (feet) 700'
Typical Visibility (feet)  
Wreck Condition  
Diving Considerations  
Other Information The American passenger steamer Cherokee was torpedoed and sunk in the same attack. The vessels were traveling in convoy XB-25 at the time of the incident. 

For more information on the Port Nicholson sinking, see...
http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/1821.html 

In recent years, a Maine-based  treasure-hunting company called Sub Sea Research has reported that the Port Nicholson was carrying a valuable cargo of gold, platinum and diamonds at the time of her sinking, and that they have located the wreck and plan to salvage the treasure. For more information on this treasure-hunting venture, see...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/archaeology/4330310/British-shipwreck-holds-2.6-billion-treasure-explorers-claim.html
http://subsearesearch.com/news.htm 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Port_Nicholson_(1918)#cite_note-AP-9 

Attention Divers
The information on this page was obtained from a variety of sources. Although we have attempted to make it as accurate as possible, it may contain errors.  For your personal safety, use extreme caution when diving on this wreck.

For more information on this wreck's location and history, and water and diving conditions in the area, contact local dive shop personnel, dive charter boat operators and local fishermen. Also check out the other shipwreck Websites listed on our Favorite Links page.


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