Charted as OCEAN HOUND, 'entire wreck' in the Marine zone.
Vessel remains:
Lies in position 51°18.88N, 001°48.34E at a depth of 25min a general depth of 37m.
Sonar dimensions: 19 x 6 x 6.6m. Orientation: 32°. 'Intact, bows to south-west .'
A 1991 examination of her position 'using small boat and dragging seabed with steel pole, no foul obtained and no
evidence of wreck remains.' (1, 25.11.91)
Dived on in 1991 when she was reported as lying on her keel 'with 15° to starboard. Port side trawl gear on deck but
starboard trawl full of fish and still attached to derrick, had not been recovered. No sign of collision damage.' (1,
10.9.91 citing Fishing News 30.8.91)
Wreck had been 'cut down by Western Towing Company and was clear at 25.2m.' (1, 25.8.92)
Documentary evidence:
'Sunk due to collision with unknown southbound vessel in DW route ('World in Action' shown on ITV 18.11.91).
Probably capsized due to severe interaction between it and an overtaking SW-bound unknown vessel, and then drifted
in a semi-buoyant condition until it was struck and finally sunk by a second unknown vessel.' (1, citing IMO casualty
report).
'A registered fishing vessel, BM 22, believed to have been run down and sunk in the Dover Strait on a Sunday
morning. The Trinity House vessel MERMAID using the side scan sonar attempted to find the wreck assisted by
Royal Navy divers, but were unable to locate the wreck initially. The search commenced when an emergency beacon
started to transmit. Those missing included the skipper/part owner... his son, the ship's mate and [another crewman],
all from Brixham. The only body recovered was the fifth member of the crew.'
Radar records pieced together during the investigation into her loss indicate 'that at 2337 hrs on 10 August OCEAN
HOUND was probably involved in a collision or very close quarter situation with an unidentified vessel, causing her
immediate capsize. Following receipt of the EPIRB distress message at 0520 hrs on 11 August, Dover CG mounted a
full scale Search and Rescue (SAR) operation. The body of one of the crew was recovered from the vicinity of the
wreck, which was found in a position about 0.7 miles North of the Falls Light Vessel. No survivors (or any oth er
bodies) were found and the search was called off at 0941 hrs on 12 August. A second body was washed ashore on
the Kent coast on 4 September 1991.' (1, citing MAIB investigation into the loss of the OCEAN HOUND)
Where, when built and by whom are not known.
Length: 21.9m ; 22.3 x 6.01 x 2.9m
Tonnage: 42 grt
Propulsion: Screw-driven diesel engine
Engine: V12 by Mercedes Benz
Power: 221 kW
Speed: 8 knots
Crew: 5
Crew lost: 5
Owner: P Bowditch
Source 3 shows a photograph of the vessel.