Modemi The 1481 ton Modemi was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine off Whitby High Light on November 11 1917. Details of the ship: Builders Antwerp Engineering Co in 1912. Engines 3cy 19 31 and 51. Dimensions of the ship: 243ft long by 38ft beam. Located in 1978 during a sea-bed sonar survey is a wreck which could easily be the Modemi. The position has also been reported as 54 29 10N 00 30 00W, which has also been given as a position for the Martina.

Corsican Prince The steamer Corsican Prince, 2276 gross tons, was torpedoed 3 miles east of Whitby on February 7 1917, and a gallant bid to rescue survivors resulted in the loss of the 3026 tonne Saint Ninian. This Glasgow registered ship stopped to pick up the crew of the stricken vessel and the rescue party in the ships lifeboats were horrified to see the periscope of the submarine only 200 yards away. Their shouts and signals were unalbe to alert the Saint Ninian and a torpedo discharged at point blank range caused massive explosion between the engine room and No 3 hold. The ship sank almost instantaneously. Half the crew of 28 were lost, including the master, and those rescued were found clinging to the upturned keel of a lifeboat. From the Corsicam Prince, all but one were saved by the selfless and heroic actions of the crew of Saint Ninian, whos brave efforts were in the finest tradition of the Merchant Services. Corsican Prince was built by Short Bros of Sunderland in 1900. Engines were 3cy, 23, 38 and 62-42 by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co. Dimensions of the ship were 316ft long by 42ft beam. 2SB 6CF.

Saint Ninian Built by MaKay and Company in 1894, this 3026 ton Glasgow steamer lost 16 of her crew, including the captain, during the heroic rescue of the survivors of the Corsical Prince. Details of the wreck: Builder, Henderson and Co Glasgow 1894. Engine details: 3cy 24, 38 and 62-42. 2SB 6PF. Dimensions: 320ft long by 42ft beam. Engines:TCY. There are wrecks charted in this area recorded by sonar surveys, one at 54 29 00N 00 28 25W rising 8m in a charted depth of 36m, and the other at 54 29 12N 00 28 20W.

Martina This 335 ton West German motor vessle, sank on August 24 1972 when she took on a heavy list and sank in 48m of water while carrying a cargo of maize from Rotterdam to Hartlepool. She was 137ft long by 23ft beam. No diving information is available. Surveys suggest the wreck is in two pieces in positions 54 29 18N 00 26 33W and 54 29 10N 00 26 56W, but these are more likely to be two separate wrecks.

Harrow The 1778 ton Cory collier Harrow, was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine on September 9 1917, 4 miles south-east of Whitby. Built by SP Austin of Sunderland in 1900. Engines by W Allen of Sunderland TCY 20, 33 and 54. 2SB 6CF. Dimensions of the ship were 368ft long by 38ft beam. A recent hydrographic survey indicates an obstruction here at 54 28 12 N 00 30 06W standing 7m high in 35m.

London The 1706 ton London, was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine 4 miles east-by-south of Whitby on June 23 1918. Details of the ship were: Builders, Gourly Bros Dundee in 1892. Engines 3cy 30, 47 and 77. 2DB 12 RF. Dimensions of the ship were 280ft long by 37ft beam. A sonar contact likely to be a wreck in this vicinity is at 54 28 33N 00 29 05W lying in 35m and rising 12m by soundings.

Unknown Sonar surveys suggest a wreck in position 54 28 30N 00 28 18W rising 7m above the sea bed in 40m of water.

Moorlands Carrying 5800 tons of iron ore at the time of her loss, the 3602 ton Whitby registered Moorlands was lost to torpedoed  attack by German submarine UB88 on June 24 1918. Local divers have reported a large wreck with a cargo of iron ore and bows level with sea bed, standing some 12 m high at the midship and stern laid to port. The position given by divers is 54 28 24N 00 28 00W in 52m if water. An alternative location is 54 28 26N 00 27 54W, a position reported from a sea bed sonar survey. Built by Doxford and Sons, Sunderland, 1910. Owners: Eskside Steam Shipping Co. Engines 3CY 25, 40 and 67-45. 2SB 6CF. Dimensions were 357ft long by 50ft beam. The wreck was subsequently identified by her name on the wheel boss.

Lowtyne The 3281 ton Lowtyne, ex Slinsby, was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine on June 10 1918. Built by Ropner and son in Stockton-on-Tees in 1892 for the Lowland Shipping Company, the Ship was 322ft long by 41.5ft beam. Engines: TCY 23.5, 39 and 64-42. 2SB 6CF. There is an unidentified survey contact at 54 28 18N 00 27 12W lying in 30m of water, which may be the Lowtyne.

Lanthorn The 2299 ton collier Lanthorn, ex Magnus Mail, was scuttled after being captured by UB41, 3 miles east of Whitby on May 22 1917. Built in 1889 for the Gas, Light and Coke Company, and subsequently managed by Stephenson Clarke, Lanthron was one of the last clipper stemmed tramp steamers to be built. This should provide a valuable clue to identification. A wreck which could be the Lanthorn is in 54 28 10N 00 25 35W.

Knud The Danish steamship of 1190 tons, ran ashore on the rocky scar at North Cheek, Robin Hood's Bay, on January 2 1900, in the early hours of the morning. The Robin Hoods Bay Lifeboat took off the crew of thirteen. The vessel, in ballast on route from Ghent to the Tees, did not survive the heavy seas pounding the rocky shore. The wreckage littering this area is well dispersed owing to the exposed nature of the ground. Dimensions of ship: 231ft long by 30ft beam. Engines C.2cy 30 and 60-36. 2SB 4PF. Built 1871. Registered Copenhagen.

Dunmail On March 29 1911 the 966 ton schooner-rigged steamer Dunmail, went ashore at Ness point, North Cheek, Robin Hood's Bay, smashing off the rudder and stempost on impact. The Robin Hood's Bay Lifeboat the Mary Ann Lockwood stood by the Dunmail and took off the crew of fifteen as the vessel began to fill on the incoming tide. The Dunmail had run ashore at low water, and was soon a total loss. Details of ship: Built 1884 by SP Austin and Co. Owned by Sharp Steamship Co of Newcastle. Dimensions 216ft long by 31ft beam. Engines C.2cy 27 and 53-33. 1SB 3PF.

Heatherfield On February 26 1936, this 500 ton coaster, making her first journey on this coast, ran ashore at Ness Point, North Cheek, Robin Hoods Bay about 200 yards from the foot of the cliffs. Usually working the west coast routes between Liverpool, Ireland and France, she was this time carrying450 tons of scrap iron to the Thames. In a foggy haze and at low tide, the rescue of the captain and crew was carried out in classic style by the shore based Rocket Lifesaving Bridges, famous for the breeches buoy rescue technique. The local brigade were on station within an hour and the second rocket fell across the vessel fouling the ships steam whistle causing it to blow violently. One by one, the crew were dragged to safety by breechesbuoy, although five had already risked their lives in the boiling surf and had scrambled over the rocks to safety. The salvage of her scrap iron cargo being worked by the harvest Queen, a small salvage vessel, herself becoming a victim of the scar on September 2 1936. Details of Heatherfield: Built in Lytham, 1924. 142ft overall. very little wreckage other than the boiler remains.

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