Propeller Steamship Belem Shipwreck
by Richard Brookes
Title
Propeller Steamship Belem Shipwreck
Artist
Richard Brookes
Medium
Photograph
Description
A very low tide at Sandymouth beach North Cornwall near Northcott Mouth, north of Bude, Cornwall, England, UK. Amazingly today (20 Mar 2015) the propeller has been exposed from the wreck of the 1,925 ton Portuguese steamship "Belem" (formerly the German SS Rhodos). Ship became stranded in thick fog at Northcott Mouth, Bude, on 20th November 1917 while on passage from Gibraltar to Barry with ballast. The crew of 33 including two Royal Navy gunners (she was armed with a light gun aft), were brought ashore by rocket apparatus. She soon broke her back and was deemed a constructive total loss, being later broken up for scrap. The remains are not always visible except on occasion when heavy seas scoop away the covering sand, In the 1980's(?) a team of local enthusiasts recovered part of her propeller shaft which was donated to Bude Museum. Also understand that another part of the shaft was used to perch the barrel on Barrel Rock at the end of Bude Sea Breakwater.
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Uploaded
March 20th, 2015
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Viewed 3,092 Times - Last Visitor from Beverly Hills, CA on 03/19/2024 at 5:23 AM
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Comments (7)
Julia Woodman
Love the positioning, the curves in this shot - makes the metal look organic!
Richard Brookes replied:
Thank you Julia, I really appreciate your comment. Yes, it is almost like some unusual seaweed or fins!
Marnie Patchett
WOW, great shot.
Richard Brookes replied:
Thanks Marnie - one of those shots that came out a little different from that expected! :)
Kristina Rinell
cool shot!
Richard Brookes replied:
Thank you Christina! Apart from being excited about finding so much of the wreck exposed finding this was amazing. I was pleased that shot came out this way. It looks like it is floating in the water - a certain irony! :)
Julie Adair
Great capture and composition Richard.
Richard Brookes replied:
Thanks Julie. Appreciate your kind comment. It was getting exciting perched on bits of the wreck with the tide racing in!
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"