S.S. Benmohr
The last journey
THE SILVER CARGO
S.S. Benmohr
The attack
Admiralty report
Lloyds loss card
U505 log book extract
CREW SAVED
After a 5-mile-long take off run, the plane managed to get airborne. An amazing feat.
S.S. Benmohr
The search
The search site was some 300 miles from land and it was expected that the seafloor in the area would be difficult. The water depth was in excess of 4,500 meters.
THE SEARCH
Spotted by MAKiX
S.S. Benmohr
Confirming the find
CONFIRMING THE FIND
Comanche finds the proof
S.S. Benmohr
The recovery operation
S.S. Benmohr
Finding the Cargo
Finding the Cargo
Research had shown where the boxes of silver were supposed to have been stowed
- Parts of the superstructure and the main deck had to be removed to expose the top of No.
- 4 deep tank in which the cargo was said to have been stowed.
- The tank top was removed and then the long process of removing hundreds of bails of fibre was started.
- Finally, at the bottom of the tank traces of boxes could be seen.
- In the boxes: silver cut coin
THE SEARCH
Finding the Cargo
However, only about half of the boxes were found to be here, and the search began for the rest.
The issue now was where to find the missing small volume cargo somewhere in this very large ship. The possible locations were many.
This involved more deck removal to look deeper into the ship and finally the remainder of the silver was found stored on either side of the prop shaft, at the bottom of the ship.
The final tally of silver showed about a 90% recovery.
As per the requirement of United Kingdom Salvage Law, the recovered cargo was delivered to Southampton into the control of the Receiver of Wreck at the Department for Transport.
The Receiver held the cargo and established that the cargo owner was the United Kingdom Department for Transport. The Receiver helped negotiate an agreed salvage award between the cargo owner and salvor.
