Cheynes II (1984)
Princess Royal Harbour
The 440 ton steam whale chaser Cheynes II was built by the Smiths Dock and Engine Company of Teeseburgh, Middlesbrough. It was originally named the Thorbryn and operated by a Norwegian based whaling company. Between 1962-63 it was owned by Whale Products Co. of Queensland and named Looma II. In 1963 it was bought by the Cheynes Beach Whaling Co, renamed Cheynes II and was engaged in whaling operations in Albany until the company ceased operations in 1978. In 1992 after having been stripped of fittings and lying derelict at the Albany Town Jetty, the Cheynes II broke loose from its moorings in a gale, and grounded on a sandbank in Princess Royal Harbour in 3-4 metres depth. The wreck is clearly visible from Albany.
Ship Built
Owner Cheynes Beach Whaling Co P/L, Albany(later Cheynes Beach Holdings P/L)
Builder Smith's Dock & Engine Company,
Country Built UK
Port Built Teesbank, Middlesborough
When Built 1947
Ship Lost
Gouped Region South-Coast
Sinking Broke loose from town jetty in 1990s drifted and grounded
When Lost 1984
Where Lost Princess Royal Harbour
Latitude -35.056422
Longitude 117.909888
Position Information GPS 2005
Ship Details
Engine triple expansion 1850 HP
Length 47.90
TONA 440.00
Museum Reference
Unique Number 963
Sunk Code Abandoned
File Number 2009/0090/SG _MA-32/92
Protected Not protected State
Found Y
Inspected Y
Confidential NO