Ben Dearg (19097)
Ben Dearg Beach, Swarbricks Beach (Herald Pt and Islet Point)
SS Ben Dearg (1925-1951) ex Thomas Alexander, ex Etoile Polaire, ex Daily Express, ex Turcoman
The Castle Class trawler Ben Dearg was originally built for the UK Admiralty as the Thomas Alexander, and served most of its life as a trawler in French and UK fisheries. It was renamed the Ben Dearg in 1936 and in 1939 the UK Admiralty requisitioned the Ben Dearg as a minesweeper in World War II. The Ben Dearg arrived in Albany in 1949 with its sister ship Commiles, both owned by the Anglo-Australian Fishing Company. The trawlers were employed in trawling the Great Australian Bight, but the venture was unsuccessful. In 1951 the Ben Dearg was scuttled off Swarbrick’s Beach east of Albany in an area today known as Ben Dearg Beach, while the Commiles was sunk in the Rottnest Island Ships’ Graveyard in 1953 after being used for target practice by the RAAF.
Ship Built
Owner Anglo-Australian Fishing Co
Builder Cook, Wellington and Gemmell Ltd
Country Built UK
Port Built Beverley
Port Registered Fleetwood
When Built 1920
Ship Lost
Gouped Region South-Coast
Sinking Scuttled
When Lost 19097
Where Lost Ben Dearg Beach, Swarbricks Beach (Herald Pt and Islet Point)
Latitude -35.010441964
Longitude 118.051665562
Position Information Position from Harbour Master Report
Ship Details
Engine triple expansion steam engine
Length 38.30
Beam 7.20
TONA 280.00
TONB 109.00
Draft 3.90
Museum Reference
Official Number 144518
Unique Number 961
Registration Number 144518
Sunk Code Scuttled
File Number 2010/0030/SG _MA-195/72
Protected Not protected Federal
Found Y
Inspected N
Confidential NO