History

The SS Excellent was an iron screw steamer built by Short Brothers of Sunderland in 1880. The vessel measured approximately 260 feet (79 metres) in length, had a beam of 36 feet (11 metres) and displaced around 1,082 tons.

In February 1888, while carrying a cargo of fruit from Palermo to Philadelphia, the vessel sought shelter in Gibraltar Bay. During the early hours of 28 February, strong tidal conditions caused the ship to drag its anchor. As it drifted, it collided with two nearby vessels, the Saint Asaph and the Memling, causing serious damage to all three ships.

The collision breached the port side of the Excellent, allowing water to flood the hull. The crew successfully abandoned ship, and all those on board were rescued without loss of life. Shortly afterwards, the vessel sank in the bay, close to the location where the Detached Mole would later be constructed some two decades afterwards.

Site Description

The wreck now rests inverted on a relatively flat seabed approximately 50 metres from the Detached Mole. It lies between 25 and 28 metres below sea level, with the stern orientated towards the north. The upturned hull rises around 6 metres above the seabed and measures approximately 11 metres across at its widest point.

Over more than a century underwater, the wreck has undergone significant structural collapse. The bow has separated from the main hull, while an anchor chain still links part of the wreck to one of its anchors resting nearby. The former foredeck has created a spacious tunnel beneath the overturned hull, and sections of the vessel's masts remain visible.

The damage caused by the original collision is still evident amidships, where deformation of the hull has exposed much of the engine room. One of the original boilers remains largely intact, with its furnace still recognisable, while the second boiler has become displaced. Nearby lies the vessel's twin-cylinder steam engine together with elements of the engine room ventilation system. Parts of the former superstructure remain partially buried beneath surrounding sediments.

Towards the stern, further collapse has exposed the propeller shaft and its bearings. Although the stern itself survives, the original propeller and its mounting were accidentally removed in 1994 following contact with an oil rig and now lie a short distance from the wreck.

Today the wreck supports an exceptionally rich marine ecosystem. Gorgonian sea fans, nudibranchs, tube worms, crustaceans and numerous fish species have colonised the structure, making it one of Gibraltar's most biologically diverse historic wreck sites.

Further Reading

Those wishing to learn more about the SS Excellent and Gibraltar's rich underwater cultural heritage 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 Gibraltar's historic shipwrecks, wartime remains and underwater archaeological investigations, and is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in the Rock's maritime history. Copies are available from the Gibraltar National Museum, as well as selected booksellers and online retailers.

SS Excellent interior.

SS Excellent propeller.