BISHOPSTON

The SS Bishopston was a steamship with a tragically short life. Built in 1916 by the Clyde Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. in Port Glasgow for Swansea Steamers Ltd., she was a product of the massive wartime shipbuilding effort. Powered by a 251 NHP triple-expansion steam engine, she was a typical cargo vessel of her time, designed to transport vital supplies for the war effort.

Her end came on September 4, 1917, during the height of the First World War. While the official records do not specify a cause, her sinking off the coast of Cornwall-a notorious hunting ground for German U-boats-leaves little doubt. Like countless other merchant ships during the war, she was almost certainly the victim of a torpedo attack, lost with her cargo to the depths as part of the unrestricted submarine warfare campaign.

Today, the Bishopston lies at 51 meters, making her a classic deep air or technical trimix dive in the English Channel. The wreck is often subject to strong currents, which can make for a challenging dive but also brings with it a stunning diversity of marine life. Divers can explore the remnants of her hull, identify her two large boilers, and marvel at the impressive triple-expansion engine, which still stands proud amid the wreckage. The Bishopston is a powerful and atmospheric dive, a tangible link to the sacrifices of the merchant navy during the Great War.