Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Rio Verde: North Channel
Steamship (20th Century)
Site Name Rio Verde: North Channel
Classification Steamship (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Austriana; '4 Miles West Of Crammag Head'; Grummag Head; 'off [the] Mull Of Galloway'; Irish Sea; Rio Verde (Ex. Austriana)
Canmore ID 101697
Site Number NX03SW 8002
NGR NX 02 32
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/101697
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Maritime - Dumfries And Galloway
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NX03SW 8002 0221 3361
N54 39 W5 4
NLO: Crammag Head [name: NX 088 339]
Mull of Galloway [name: NX 157 302].
Formerly entered as NX03SW 8106 at cited location NX 0221 3361 [N54 39 W5 4].
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = UND
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
RIO VERDE was torpedoed by submarine.
Source; World War I Shipping Loses.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
26 February 1918. The vessel's position is given as 4 miles to the W of Grammag Head (Mull of Cantyre). It was not seen to sink on the 25 February 1918.
The vessel's position is given as 4 mins W of Grummag [Crammag] Head. It was torpedoed and probably sank 10 minutes later.
25 February 1918. Report by Commadore Larne. The vessel was torpedoed about 5 minutes (magnetic) W of the Mull of Gallaway [Galloway] and sank 3.75 hours later.
22 February 1918. The vessel was about 5 mins W from the Mull of Galloway.
Report by wireless/telephone operator, I.D.S.A.
5 March 1973. The vessel was not found during survey.
Report by HMS FAWN 1 December 1972.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship, with cargo of coal: former name cited as Austriana, and date of loss as 21 February 1918). Rio Verde: this vessel was torpedoed off [the] Mull of Galloway or four miles West of Crammag Head.
Registration: London. Built 1901. 4025grt. Length: 103m. Beam: 14m.
(Location of loss cited as N54 39.0 W5 4.0).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative, being derived from the unverified location of loss that is cited by Whittaker.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 31 August 2005.
Loss (21 February 1918)
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = UND
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
RIO VERDE was torpedoed by submarine.
Source; World War I Shipping Loses.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
26 February 1918. The vessel's position is given as 4 miles to the W of Grammag Head (Mull of Cantyre). It was not seen to sink on the 25 February 1918.
The vessel's position is given as 4 mins W of Grummag [Crammag] Head. It was torpedoed and probably sank 10 minutes later.
25 February 1918. Report by Commadore Larne. The vessel was torpedoed about 5 minutes (magnetic) W of the Mull of Gallaway [Galloway] and sank 3.75 hours later.
22 February 1918. The vessel was about 5 mins W from the Mull of Galloway.
Report by wireless/telephone operator, I.D.S.A.
5 March 1973. The vessel was not found during survey.
Report by HMS FAWN 1 December 1972.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship, with cargo of coal: former name cited as Austriana, and date of loss as 21 February 1918). Rio Verde: this vessel was torpedoed off [the] Mull of Galloway or four miles West of Crammag Head.
Registration: London. Built 1901. 4025grt. Length: 103m. Beam: 14m.
(Location of loss cited as N54 39.0 W5 4.0).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Note (31 August 2005)
The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative, being derived from the unverified location of loss that is cited by Whittaker.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 31 August 2005.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 664
Name : RIO VERDE (EX. AUSTRIANA)
Latitude : 543900
Longitude : 50400
Date Built : 1901
Registration : LONDON
Type : SS (STEEL)
Tonnage : 4025
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 103
Beam : 14
Draught : 6m
Position : Position Approximate
Loss Day : 21
Loss Month : 2
Loss Year : 1918
Comment : Torped off Mull of Galloway or 4 miles west of Crammag Head
Cargo : COAL
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 005120
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Non-dangerous wreck
State : DEAD
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 54.65000,-5.06667
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 54.65009,-5.06779
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Previous Position : 54.65000,-5.06667
Position Quality : Unreliable
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 110
Vertical Datum : Mean Low Water Springs
Name : RIO VERDE
Type : SS
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 105.2
Beam : 14.6
Draught : 5.8
Tonnage : 4025
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : COAL
Date Sunk : 21/02/1918
Bottom Texture : Sand
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Last Sensor : None reported
Original Detection Year : 1918
Last Detection Year : 1918
Original Source : Other
Last Source : Other
Circumstances of Loss : **EX- AUSTRIANA. BUILT IN 1901 BY IRVINES S.B. & D.D. CO. WITH TRIPLE- EXPANSION ENGINES OF 306NHP. PASSAGE CLYDE FOR MILFORD HAVEN. TORPEDOED BY GERMAN SUBMARINE U-86. 20 LOST INCLUDING MASTER. (WW1 BMS UBOAT SINKINGS, DODS, LLWW1 & WW1SL).
Surveying Details : **M9951 22.2.18 SUNK ABOUT 5M W OF MULL OF GALLOWAY. (W/T OPERATOR - IDSA).
**M10169 25.2.18 4M W OF GRUMMAG HEAD. TORPEDOED; PROBABLY SANK 10 MINUTES LATER. (IDSA). NCA.
**M06940 25.2.18 TORPEDOED ABOUT 5MS W [MAG] OF MULL OF GALLOWAY. SANK 3 HOURS 45 MINS LATER. (COMMODORE LARNE). NCA.
**M9982 26.2.18 4M TO W OF GRAMMAG HEAD, MULL OF GALLOWAY. NOT SEEN TO SINK. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). INFORMATION FROM 3RD MATE, SINKING QUICKLY, MASTER DROWNED. POSN 543900N, 050400W [OGB] FOR FILING ONLY.
**H3671/72 5.3.73 NOT FOUND DURING SURVEY. (HMS FAWN, ROS DTD 1.12.72). AMENDED TO DEAD. NCA.
Charting Comments : POSN FOR FILING ONLY
Date Last Amended : 09/12/2009
Date Position Last Amended : 09/12/2009
