Name SS Pericles Yard number 392 Maiden voyage 8 July 1908 Length 153 m | Route London-Sydney Completed 4 June 1908 Launched 21 December 1907 Builder Harland and Wolff | |
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Operator Aberdeen Line (1907-1910) | ||
SS Pericles was an 10,925-ton ocean liner of the Aberdeen Line launched in 1907. In 1910, she hit a rock near Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia and sank, although with no loss of life.
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Ship history
Pericles was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, being launched on 21 December 1907. She left London on her maiden voyage to Australia on 8 July 1908. She was the first ship of the Aberdeen Line to be built by Harland & Wolff and at that time the largest on routes to Australia for first and third class passengers.
On 31 March 1910, on her way home from Sydney to London, under the command of Captain Alexander Simpson, Pericles struck an uncharted rock 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Cape Leeuwin. Fortunately the weather was calm and 238 passengers and 163 crew were able to safely abandon ship, which sank shortly thereafter.
Aftermath
On 7 April 1910 a Court of Inquiry was commenced at Fremantle Courthouse. It concluded on 14 April 1910 and found that the ship's master had taken all due care and vigilance, but had struck a previously uncharted submerged obstruction and thereby foundered.
The wreck lies 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) south of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse at a depth of about 35 metres (115 ft).