History

During the First World War, German submarine activity posed a significant threat to Allied shipping operating through the Strait of Gibraltar and the wider Mediterranean. To strengthen local naval defences, the Royal Navy expanded its patrol capability around Gibraltar by requisitioning a number of civilian vessels for military service.

Among these were two 150-ton steam trawlers, taken into service in 1915, armed and commissioned as Cormorant II and Cormorant IV. Their names were derived from HMS Cormorant, the Royal Navy depot ship based at Coaling Island, which served as an important support vessel for naval operations in Gibraltar during the war.

The wreck believed to represent one of these patrol vessels is thought to have been lost following an explosion in approximately 1917, while approaching the northern entrance to Gibraltar Harbour.

Several artefacts recovered during diving expeditions in the 1970s helped strengthen this identification. Among the finds were a Lewis machine gun and a Royal Navy crest depicting a cormorant, believed to have originated from the vessel. Unfortunately, the crest was subsequently lost following the relocation of the Branch 317 Sub-Aqua Club during the 1980s.

Site Description

The wreck rests upright on a level seabed at a depth of approximately 34 metres and measures around 15 metres in length. Although much of the vessel was originally constructed of timber, large sections of the hull remain intact, preserved by the surviving copper sheathing that still holds much of the structure together.

At the centre of the wreck is a substantial steam boiler, while immediately aft lies the engine room containing the vessel's twin two-cylinder engines, which originally powered its twin propellers. The stern has largely collapsed, and parts of the forward hull have deteriorated, but a surprising number of fittings remain in place. One of the most notable is the bow anchor, which still rests secured in its original position.

The sheltered spaces around the machinery frequently provide habitat for marine life, including lobsters, conger eels and ling. Owing to the relatively limited marine growth covering the structure, many features of the vessel remain clearly recognisable.

Further Reading

Those wishing to explore Gibraltar's First World War maritime heritage and its submerged archaeological sites in greater detail are encouraged to read Underwater Gibraltar: A Guide to the Rock’s Submerged Sites, by Phil Smith and Darren Fa. The book provides a comprehensive account of the Rock's underwater cultural heritage, including many of its historic shipwrecks and wartime remains. Copies are available from the Gibraltar National Museum, as well as selected booksellers and online retailers.

Wreck pieces of the pilot boat.

Wreck pieces of the pilot boat.