Ocean: Upper Firth Of Clyde

(Classified as launch: no cargo specified, but date of loss cited as 12 September 1947). Ocean: this vessel foundered off Roseneath [Roseneath] Point.

(Location of loss cited as N55 59.0 W4 45.0).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The location of loss assigned to this record is essentially tentative.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 3 December 2009.

Whittaker ID : 8505

Name : OCEAN

Latitude : 555900

Longitude : 44500

Type : LAUNCH

Loss Day : 12

Loss Month : 9

Loss Year : 1947

Comment : Foundered off Roseneath Point.

UKHO Identifier : 004134

Feature Class : Wreck

Wreck Category : Dangerous wreck

State : LIVE

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 55.98775,-4.75766

Horizontal Datum : WGS (1984)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.98775,-4.75766

WGS84 Origin : Original

Previous Position : 55.98772,-4.75642

Position Method : Differential Global Positioning System

Position Quality : Surveyed

Position Accuracy : 3.0

Depth : 13.0

Depth Method : Found by multi-beam

Depth Quality : Least depth known

Water Depth : 15

Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged

Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide

Name : OCEAN (POSSIBLY)

Type : M LAUNCH

Flag : BRITISH

Length : 15.2

Sonar Length : 20.0

Sonar Width : 8.0

Shadow Height : 2.1

Orientation : 5.0

Date Sunk : 14/09/1947

Bottom Texture : Mud

Sonar Signal Strength : Moderate

Scour Depth : 0.0

Debris Field : NIL

Contact Description : Entire wreck

Original Sensor : Reported Sinking

Last Sensor : Acoustic Sensor

Original Detection Year : 1947

Last Detection Year : 2006

No further information found on shipbuilder or build-place of the Ocean. The Ocean was a motor launch vessel, wrecked in 1847. There is no record of a vessel under the name of Ocean which fits with this description at http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/shipview.asp [accessed 2 December 2014] which may indicate that the vessel was not Clyde-built.

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 27/11/2014.

The maritime archaeology of the Clyde has been identified as a focus for a major study of human interaction with the river through time by the RCAHMS following on from recommendations by the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF). Source to

Sea has been developed as the long-term research programme, of which the research into human connections with the River Clyde forms part. This project has comprised a study of the surviving shipwreck heritage of Clyde-built vessels lost within the Clyde estuary and Firth of Clyde.

This project has collated information from a range of sources and has enhanced knowledge of Clyde-built wrecks within the Clyde. In particular information from recreational divers has proved invaluable and has been the source of detailed information about the current condition of many Clyde-built wrecks, useful for on-going management. A number of wrecks previously recorded as of unknown identity in the RCAHMS database were positively identified during the project and more accurate positional information was established for a number of other wrecks. Additionally, the project identified a potentially significant wreck (Margaret Niven) the remains of which were not previously recorded. This project has also identified a number of other potentially significant wrecks within the Clyde, which reflect both its unique contributions to world-wide shipbuilding and local connections. These wrecks include paddle steamers (Lapwing and Princess of Wales), Clyde Puffers (e.g. Margaret Niven), steam-yachts with military connections (HMS Breda), a dredger (Greenock) and an 18th-century West Indiaman (Lady Margaret). Numerous other wrecks have been identified by this project, and all display some degree of significance.

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology) April 2015