Inverloch shipwreck floats again

Sunday 1 September 2024 brought a large swell to the Inverloch coastline and by 3pm we could see as much of the Amazon wreckage we had viewed previously in 2020.

No one could have envisaged what was to take place the next day. on the 2nd September. 20 metres of the bow starboard, which was 85% covered with sand, was literally lifted out of the sand and began to float eastwards. For over two hours committee members watched as the wreckage moved in and out with the huge swell.

Unrelenting waves continued to pound down on the wreckage and eventually the weight of the deadwoods secured it. Although still pivoting, it appeared to be secure.

The weather conditions causing this refloat must have been very similar to those described by Captain Abraham Ogier when the ship was run into sand on the Inverloch beach in 1863.

This quarter of the ship Amazon had moved 60 metres eastward along the foreshore. By late afternoon the committee felt sure that the wreckage had settled. It is thought, that this part of the wreckage has not been revealed for perhaps more than 75 years or even longer.

At 5.30am on Tuesday 3 September the Liam and Heritage Victoria team arrived to make the most of the low tide. With assistance, sand was carefully removed and photogrammetry undertaken.

3D photogrammetry
We now have this wonderful 3D image which can be rotated, zoomed in and out without losing definition and Liam has labelled sections for our benefit. A great result!

(Best viewed in full-screen).

Refloated wreck image gallery September 2024