On her maiden voyage with a valuable cargo of flour, bacon, lard and other food supplies and no pilot on board, she ran aground on the NW edge of the Goodwins at high water on a Wednesday evening. The vessel, being brilliantly lit, was seen by the GULL lightship, which summoned the Deal lifeboat, the CHARLES DIBDIN, coxswain W. Adams, being afloat at 10.30pm. Wind and weather conditions which were particularly severe, with snow squalls and heavy frost meant that the lifeboat did not reach the wreck until midnight. Three lifeboat men clambered up a ladder to the deck, where they were politely informed that the captain was asleep and had left orders not to be disturbed until 7.30am. A Dover harbour tug and the Harbour Master then arrived, and the captain of the PIAVE reluctantly got up. Much cargo was jettisoned, and six tugs attempted to refloat her. 1,500 tons of fuel oil were then pumped out but she still remained fast. The 30,000 ship money and papers were saved. Master: H L Mortensue Crew: 96 Crew Lost: 0 Passengers: 0 Date of Loss Qualifier: A Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index: MOD(N).Hyd.Wk.No.012317147; LCR.1919 p7(g); EKM.08.02.1919(Sat)(R)

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.