Zvir (1902/11/27)
Point Cloates
The steel screw steamer Zvir, Port of Registry, Rijeka, Croatia, was in tramp service
for the shipping company, ‘Societe in Aziono Ungaro-Croata per la nar Libera’ on
a voyage from Passaman (Java) to Port Adelaide when it wrecked at Point Cloates
on 27 November, 1902. Zvir was carrying a cargo of sugar (The West Australian
22/12/1902) under charter to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. The ship
initially grounded and extensive damage resulted in the vessel’s total loss at this
location (-22.6091666, 113.626 WGS 84). With no lives lost, the crew left the wreck
in the lifeboats and walked into Carnarvon. Two weeks later, as reported in The
Morning Herald (13/01/1903), the vessel was in ‘the same position intact but heeled
over to a heavy degree to starboard, the rail and upper deck being awash. Cargo
valued at £50, 000 being lost, swell breaking over decks, nothing could be saved
owing to the bad weather and that the steam lighter Beagle which was still standing
off was unable to get alongside’. All crew were rescued and repatriated to Austria
(Croatia), via Melbourne.
At the beginning of June 1903, the Harbour Authority of Rijeka undertook an
investigation into the conduct of Captain Ivan Randic and senior officers, including
Martin Sica-Susak, on duty when the wrecking occurred. Outcomes of this
investigation have not been located in the archives. Zvir was built by J. Preistman and
Company in Sunderland in 1900 as a 2-deck (1 steel, one part iron) screw steamer.
The dimensions for the vessel were 100.58 x 14.16 x 7.72m and gross tonnage was
3353.64. The name ‘Zvir’ translates to ‘spring’ or ‘well’ (Correspondence: Dr
Radojica Barbalic, 15/03/1982).
Site Description
The wreck site was discovered by skin divers in 1978.
Ship Built
Owner Society in Azioni Urgara Croata per la Nar Libera
Master Ivan Randic
Builder Priestman & Co
Country Built UK
Port Built Sunderland
Port Registered Fiume
When Built 1900
Ship Lost
Gouped Region Mid-West
Sinking Went aground
Crew 21
Deaths None
When Lost 1902/11/27
Where Lost Point Cloates
Latitude -22.6091666667
Longitude 113.626
Position Information GPS
Port From Java
Port To Melbourne (Port Adelaide)
Cargo Sugar
Ship Details
Engine 1800 HP Steam Engine
Length 100.20
Beam 14.20
TONA 2103.00
TONB 3353.64
Draft 7.70
Museum Reference
Unique Number 1536
Sunk Code Wrecked and sunk
File Number 2009/0221/SG _MA-14/80
Chart Number AUS 72, 330, 1055
Protected Protected Federal
Found Y
Inspected Y
Date Inspected 1992/09/10
Confidential NO