Historical research and trip reports

"…but more wonderful than the lore of old men
and the lore of books, is the secret lore of ocean…"

H.P. Lovecraft, "The White Ship"

Project Overview - S/S Ginette

During July 2012 a small wreck in the vicinity of Syvota, off the coast of Epirus, was visited. The position was given to us by long time friend and diver Makis Sotiropoulos. Some preparatory documentary research has already been done by George Karelas and we were able to ientify the wreck as belonging to a WWI French requisitioned trawler, the Ginette.

Wrecks that will be presented under the heading of 'Various' are wrecks that we have occasionally dived all over Greece. They are either not concentrated in any particular area or were not the object of a dedicated full blown project. Some of these remain ongoing concerns.

Gallery

The French trawler Ginette mined 1916 off Syvota, Epirus. Photo courtesy of the Maritime Museum of La Rochelle (c) Alex Henry. The ship's aft part is scattered on the bottom and engulfed in clouds of silt. The forward deck of the Ginette. The gun on the bow of the Ginette.

Field and Historical Research

The trawler Ginette

  • Text: Nicholas Vasilatos
  • Research: George Karelas, Nicholas Vasilatos

During July 2012 we dived a small wreck in the vicinity of Syvota, off the coast of Epirus. Further some preparatory documentary research done by George Karelas and our dives, we believe it to be that of a WWI French requisitioned trawler, the Ginette.The ship was built in Aberdeen, Scotland by 'John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co Ltd' in 1913. Her owners were Castaing of La Rochelle, France. The 272 grt ship had a very brief commercial career as she was requisitioned in early 1915 for the needs of the war, operating in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately she wouldn’t survive long into the war either. In the 20th of March 1916, according to official sources she hit a mine laid by UC 14 (Oblt.z.S. Franz Becker) a couple of days earlier (18th of March) and sunk immediately. Reportedly 19 of her crew lost their lives.

The wreck lies at a depth of 77 meters. She is in a pretty bad shape, only her forward part retaining the shape of a ship. A gun is mounted on the fore deck. The accommodation has been blown off as a - more or less - single piece and lies to the port side of the hull. Aft of that area there is only scattered debris. Although we expected good visibility that was not the case; visibility was at best mediocre on the shallower parts of the wreck and deteriorated further at the debris field which was half buried in the silt. Nonetheless we enjoyed summer time sunshine, flat seas and a complete absence of current.

Despite the wreck’s bad condition there are possibly a couple of dives more to be made as well as a more detailed documentary research to be conducted. These humble little ships did become sort of a highlight of the First War at sea, so the Ginette deserves some more of our time and effort!

Team members:

  • - George Karelas: diver, videography, surface support
  • - Kostas Milionis: diver, photography, surface support
  • - Helen Tsopouropoulou: diver, photography, surface support
  • - Nicholas Vasilatos: diver, surface support

Bibliography and Sources:

  • - Musée Maritime de La Rochelle
  • - Service Historique de la Défense, Paris
  • - Spindler, Arno (1934) Der Handelskrieg mit U-Booten, Volume III: Oktober 1915 bis Januar 1917, Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn, Berlin