Tiber
1846-1847, Oporto
History
The iron paddle steamer Tiber was built for P&O by Caird & Co., Greenock, and originally laid down as Ceylon but was renamed before delivery.
The Tiber struck a reef after encountering thick fog when homeward bound from the Peninsula. The vessel parted midships and soon became a total wreck. Several lives were lost, including the cook, a Spanish general and a number of deck passengers.
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Built | 1846 |
| Lost | 21-Feb-1845 |
| Tonnage | 764 |
| Dimensions | 56.0 x 8.1 m (183.8 x 26.7 ft) |
| Speed | 9 knots |
| Fate | Wrecked |
Wreck
When the wreck was first discovered by local fisherman it was named 'Navio do Norte' or 'North Wreck'. Although the identity of the wreck has never been positively identified, it is widely accepted to be the remains of the Tiber.
The Tiber rests on a flat, sandy seabed and attracts an amazing variety of marine life including shoals of pouting, conger eels, octopus, lobsters, crabs and starfish. Unfortunately the exposed location means that fishing lines and nets often get caught on the wreck. Despite the age of the wreck a significant amount of structure exists to be explored. Ballast stones are littered amongst the tangled iron debris, along with batches of copper sheets from the cargo. An unusual feature of this wreck are iron cannons complete with gun carriages and cannon balls.
| Dive Data | |
|---|---|
| Position | 41.2822, -8.782567 |
| Depth | 33m (108ft) |
| Tides | |
| Visibility | |