CHALMERS (1851-1874)
The Vimeira also built 1851 at Sunderland, made one voyage as a convict transport to Western Australia in 1865 where she landed 278 male convicts NMM, Greenwich, (PO6721)
Description
3 Masted Barque
Construction
Timber
Size
594 tons length 40.1m beam 9.1m draft 6.2m
Built
1851 by James Laing, Sunderland, England
Owner
James Laing Skipper: Capt. William Alexander
Sunk
19 March 1874
Location
19 March 1874
Latitude/Longitude
(-32.367166667, 115.690616667)
Sinking
On voyage from Mauritius to Fremantle with cargo of sugar. It first struck the reef between 11 pm and 12 pm but continued to sail. Although it was night time, no soundings were taken. The captain did not put the helm down and the vessel continued on the same east by south course. After Chalmers struck a second time it got clear again into about 2.5 to 3 fathoms of water, but later struck fast on a sand bottom. Although the vessel was taking water at a rate of 1 inch per hour no effort was made to pump it out. At the Court of enquiry The skipper was declared incompetent and his Masters ticket cancelled.
Underwater
The wreck lies in 4 to 7 metres of water on a bottom composed of coral and sand patches. It is orientated on a north to south axis with the stern facing to the north. The hull of the vessel is broken up, with only a few timbers showing above the sand.
Gallery
