SS Varvassi

SS Varvassi was a British cargo ship that was built in 1928 by William Hamilton and Company in Glasgow, Scotland. The ship was initially named SS Empire Conveyor and was owned by the Ministry of War Transport. In 1946, the ship was sold to Varvassi Steamship Co Ltd and renamed SS Varvassi.

History

The SS Varvassi was a 4,963 gross tonnage ship with a length of 400.6 feet and a breadth of 52.3 feet. The ship was powered by a triple expansion steam engine that was also built by William Hamilton and Company. The engine had three cylinders of 24 inches, 40 inches, and 68 inches diameter respectively; the stroke was 48 inches. This could propel the ship at 10 knots.

In 1947, the SS Varvassi ran aground on the Needles, a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, England. Despite the efforts of the Yarmouth Lifeboat, the ship could not be saved and was declared a total loss. The wreck of the SS Varvassi is still visible today at low tide and is a popular site for divers.

Legacy

The wreck of the SS Varvassi has become a significant landmark in the area and is often used as a reference point for local mariners. The ship's boilers and parts of the hull can still be seen at low tide. The wreck is also a popular site for scuba diving due to the abundance of marine life that has made the wreck its home.

See also

• List of shipwrecks of the Isle of Wight
• Maritime history of the United Kingdom