SS Alert
Posted by Webmaster on September 15 2019 22:19:17
IANTD Australasia and SOE divers have been given permission to recover the ships bell off the SS Alert lost in 1893.
15 lives were lost with only one survivor Robert Ponting who drifted for 16 hours and was then washed ashore barely clinging to life.The Alert foundered in a storm in Bass Strait. A dive will be undertaken by IANTD Divers coordinated by Mark Ryan of SOE to dive the Alert and assess what measures will be required to raise the Bell from the wreck which lies in over 85m . IANTD and SOE have been involved in the search and location of a number of Shipwrecks on the Bass Strait approaches and Tasman Sea over the last decade . As was reported by local Channel 7 news a number of shipwrecks along the coast have been looted.
The Federal government working with the Victorian government and Heritage Victoria have given a permit to raise and preserve for future generations this historic artefact.
It is hoped that in the near future the process can be completed.
More to follow:
A preliminary dive was undertaken on the 15th of September to assess the artefact in situ . Samples of residue around the Bell were collected to determine the effects of corrosion.A decision will be made on the best method of retrieval to prevent any damage.Thanks to local dive operator Dive Victoria for their assistance with this project.
Extended News
Bid to recover endangered artefact.