M.V. City of Rayville
The City of Rayville sits in 72 meters and is only dived by experienced Trimix Divers .One of the first divers to visit the wreck were IANTD Instructors Barry Heard and Bob Wealthy. SS City of Rayville, also referred to as the MV and/or MS City of Rayville was a 5883-ton American steamship. She was built in 1920 by Oscar Daniels & Co. of Tampa, Florida. It was the first American vessel sunk by enemy action in World War II. On 8 November 1940, City of Rayville sailed into the Bass Strait with a cargo of 1,500 tons (37,520 bars) of Port Pirie lead. At 7:47 pm the ship hit one of the mines. The explosion was powerful enough to rip out the foremast, as shrapnel and ingots of lead rained down on the ship’s decks.
The 38 crew members were able to safely abandon the vessel in lifeboats, although one mariner (James Bryan of Norfolk, Virginia)] re-entered the vessel to find his personal items and subsequently drowned. The vessel sank, bow first, in 35 minutes.
The lightkeeper stationed at Cape Otway Lightstation witnessed the sinking, and three boats from Apollo Bay went in search of survivors. The ship’s lifeboats were found, and successfully towed back to Apollo Bay, arriving at dawn, 9 November 1940.
This preceded the attack on Pearl Harbor, in December 1941, by more than a year, and resulted in the death of the first US seaman in World War II. The City of Rayville was originally a steam ship, but was converted to diesel in 1930. Although not dived often due to its isolated location it is well worth the effort.