Merksworth

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On the 6th of May 1898 the Merksworth was hit by a strong gale off Stockton Beach, Newcastle. The force of the waves smashed the engine skylight and let water into the furnace, which extinguished the fire. Water kept coming into the vessel and the crew abandoned it, but out of the 12 men, only three survived.

The 165 ton screw steamer was built in 1874 and registered in 1875 in Sydney.

Database

Site information

Site ID:

971

Type:

Steamer screw

Construction:

Iron

Primary industry:

Transport

Sub-industry:

cargo - coastal

Gross tonnage:

270

Net tonnage:

165

Length (mtrs):

44.16

Beam (mtrs):

6.766

Draft (mtrs):

3.535

Cargo:

Coal

Engine:

Compound

Country built:

UNITED KINGDOM

State built:

Scotland

Port built:

Renfrew County, Paisley

builder:

Port registered:

Sydney

When built:

1874

Registration number:

51/1876

Official number:

70852

Sources:

SMH 9/5, 10/5, 12/5/1898; 10/1/1899 NMH 25/5/1898 RBS

Comments:

Lost in the 'Maitland Gale'.

Lost event

When lost:

1898/05/07

Where lost:

Newcastle, Stockton Beach, off

Wrecked/Refloated:

Wrecked

Sinking:

Swamped

From port:

Newcastle

To port:

Sydney

Master:

Owner:

Crew:

Passengers:

Crew deaths:

Passenger deaths:

Total deaths:

Location

Maximum latitude:

Minimum latitude:

Maximum longitude:

Minimum longitude:

Datum used:

Datum	Latitude	Longitude	Zone	Easting	Northing
AGD66
AGD84
GDA94
WGS84

Management

Found:

Inspected:

Protected:

Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976

Jurisdiction:

Federal

Protection notes:

Signage:

Web address:

Links

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