Shipwrecks of North Wales

Introduction - Why I wote this paper.

These pages were originally written as a Project for my Degree course. The literature review topic I chose was Local Maritime History. I specifically chose shipwrecks as my focus. It was my Dad's idea originally and when we discussed it my Mum remembered this ship being wrecked near the Great Orme which her brother drove them all to see. After some research I discovered that the ship mum remembered was the Rethi Muller.

The Rethi Muller The Rethi Muller was a 1000ton German ship. On the morning of 5th November 1967 after being driven ashore in a storm she was moored up at Llandudno quarry pier. The quarry pier is 614ft. At 10am Captain Franz Huntz reported that despite mooring ropes the pier would not hold her steady against the storm. Not long after Captain Huntz report the 235ft vessel swung broadside to the sea. When one of the ropes snapped and ensnared the 68 year old bosun Hans Lucht. Hans broke a leg and had to be air lifted off by the RAF. Eventually the ship was driven ashore dragging its anchor at Penmaenmawr. It took 13 days to re float her using bulldozers digging a channel and plastic inflated rollers to roll her down to the sea. My mum remembered the whole family driving down to see the ship which at the time would have caused quite a local spectacle.

Local shipwrecks will always prompt interest from the local communities. The history of shipwrecks around North Wales is littered with stories of heroic acts and wrecks being plundered. Time has not altered man's interest in these stories. They are stories as much about men and women as they are about machinery and engineering. That is why I picked this topic.

Local Maritime History - Shipwrecks

This paper considers shipwrecks and local maritime history. It defines the notion of shipwreck. It considers the reasons for the high number of shipwrecks off the coast of North Wales.

The seas around “the Welsh coastline contain an immeasurable wealth of archaeological and historical artifacts” (Rees, 2005). This paper tracks the timeline of historical shipwrecks sites around North Wales. It focuses on historical incidents. It specially mentions the Royal Yacht Mary, the Royal Charter, and the submarine the Resurgam. Shipwrecks encapsulate moments of history. It is important that their records, and the sites in which they` occurred, are protected and managed properly. This paper concludes with issues on the management and preservation of such historic artifacts and the study of marine archaeology.

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