Charted as SABAC 'entire wreck' in the Marine zone.
Vessel remains:
Lies in position 51°04.35N, 001°29.39E at a depth of 37m in a general depth of 52m.
Sonar dimensions: 91.7 x 19 x 6.1m. Orientation: 128°.
'Fragment lies 25m NW.'
'An extremely intact, upright and impressive wreck sitting in a maximum of 55m. The 2 sets of superstructure are
intact and are at a depth of about 37m with the slightly canted deck at around 43m. The accommodation and bridge are
very clean... with most of the roof gone... The bridge is higher than the accommodation further aft and stands up to
around 35m. The holds are open and you can drop down to 50-52m in them. The seabed is a little deeper and has
portholes lying about on it.' This source shows a photograph of the vessel under steam.
Documentary evidence:
'Sank following collision with British MV DORINGTON CASTLE in dense fog.'
'The Yugoslav steamship SABAC... on a voyage from Ploce to Rotterdam with bauxite, was in collision with the
British motorship DORRINGTON COURT... about 6 miles SE of Dover in dense fog. The SABAC was badly holed
on the port side and sank within five minutes. The DORINGTON COURT and three other ships in the vicinity put out
boats to search for survivors, together with the Dover and Walmer lifeboats but most of those found were dead from
exposure owing to the intense cold. Only five of her crew of 33, the captain, first officer and three others survived.'
Built: 1922
Builder: Stettiner Oderwerke
Where build: Stettin-Grabow
LBD: 104.2 x 14 x 6.1m); 100.3 x 14.1m ; 342 x 46 x 20.3ft
Tonnage: 2811 grt ; 2594
Propulsion: Screw driven triple expansion reciprocating engines
Speed: 10 knots
Captain: Milo Catovic
Crew: 33
Crew lost: 28
Ownership: 1922 Built as MARIE LEONHARDT, and registered to Leonhardt and Blumberg.
1946 Registered to the Norwegian Government and re-named SKOTTNES
1647 Re-named the SABAC and registered to the Jugoslavenska Linijska Plovidba.
Source 6 shows a photograph of the vessel.