The Southern Ocean - Wreck of the Nord
Locations
The Southern Ocean
Location map
Introduction
The Southern Ocean, which circles the globe without being blocked by land, is home to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), the longest of the world's ocean currents. Also known as the "channel", it connects the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins and exerts a powerful influence over the Earth's climate. The ACC carries 150 times more water around Antarctica than the flow of all the world's rivers combined.
Wreck of the Nord
Overview
The Southern Ocean with its Roaring Forties is notoriously cruel. The SS Nord is one of the few wrecks in these waters that remains relatively intact.
This metal-hulled cargo ship hit rocks off the Tasmanian coast in 1915 on a journey to Hobart. Hugging the coast to avoid bad weather, the captain aimed to pass between two rocks but the uncharted Needle Rock pierced her bow. She sank in the waters of Munroe Bight, Tasmania. Now, at a depth of about 40 metres, the bow sits on the sand while the rudder reamins exposed at the stern of the ship.
| Importance: | A great example of Tasmania's rich maritime heritage. |
| Dive category: | Recommended for experienced divers only. The site is deep and exposed to strong currents. |
| Access: | The wreck site is at about 40 metres depth, and can be accessed by boat from Eaglehawk Bay. Divers can charter a local dive boat company. |
Interesting for
- One of the most intact wrecks in Tasmanian Waters
- The history of Nord and other notable wrecks in the area.
- Shipwrecks of Tasmania, the Nord
- The notorious winds of the Roaring Forties
- Wikipedia describes this boisterous wind and its sisters, the Furious Fifties and Shrieking Sixties.
- Roaring Forties
- The world's strongest current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC)
- Science journal Nature describes the crucial role of the ACC in global circulation.
- Ocean circulation in a warming climate
BBC related content
- Oceans ultimate dives: Lucy Blue's wreck dive
- Oceans presenter biography: Lucy Blue
- Oceans presenter biography: Paul Rose
- Oceans image gallery: The Southern Ocean
- BBC History: An introduction to wreck diving
Episode region
BBC iD
BBC iDBBC navigation
BBC links
BBC © 2014The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
