Rosalie Moller wreck

Built in Glasgow in 1910, the 108.2m long 'Francis' carried cargo around Europe. In 1931 she was taken over by the Moller Line, renamed the Rosalie Moller and reregistered in China. In 1938, this 'old lady' was requisitioned by the British Navy; Captained by Australian, James Byrne, she would load her cargo of 'Best Welsh Coal' in Cardiff and transport it to a variety of UK Naval Ports. Welsh coal burned brighter and produced less smoke, making ships more economical and less visible. In July 1941, after a full overhaul, Rosalie Moller set sail for Alexandria with 4,680 tons of coal. The Royal Navy's "Force K" was operating out of Malta and constantly needed refueling. The Mediterranean was unsafe for shipping, so everything had to be taken on the long rout around Africa, up the Red Sea and through the Suez Canal. After a long journey, the Rosalie Moller finally reached “Safe Anchorage H” in the entrance to the Gulf of Suez. The idea of these anchorages was that ships could be kept away from dangerous air-raids, until it was their turn to go through the Canal. Unfortunately, two colliding vessels had blocked the canal entrance in Suez, and the "Thistlegorm" with her much needed and valuable cargo had already been waiting in "safe anchorage F" across the water in Shaab Ali for two weeks when the Rosalie Moller arrived.

On 5th October, 1941 , German Intelligence sent some Heinkel HE111's on a special mission from Crete to bomb the Queen Mary, due to sail up the Red Sea with 1200 British troops on board. Missing their target by a day, they still struck gold with the discovery of the "safe anchorages". At 1.30am on 6th October, Thistlegorm was bombed and sunk. Forty-eight hours later, at 1.40am on 7th October, the Heinkels returned and sunk the Rosalie Moller. On 10th October, an Admiralty "SECRET" message read: "Following ships now lying sunk Red Sea and on adjacent NE African Coast. In Gulf of Suez and straits of Jubal THISTLEGORM (4,898 tons bombed badly damaged)..... ROSALIE MOLLER (3,963 tons bombed)...."

Two ships, built in separate shipyards with 30 years between them were suddenly linked by their sinking; 48 hour between nautical miles apart. Unlike Thistlegorm, the Rosalie Moller's story also sunk into the depths of time, aided by two separate reports that she had been 'raised and salvaged'. Who eventually found her, though contentious, is not as important as the fact that she was found.

Descend over the stern of the huge ship to turn and look up at the huge propeller, rudder and stern are amazing. She is upright on the seabed on an even keel. The first thing to see as you approach the wreck is the forward mast, with the mast-head lamp in place at 17m. Below this, the Bows are at 39m and the starboard anchor is deployed with the chain running down to the seabed at 50m and then out of sight. The port anchor remains fully retracted. The railings are largely still in place as is much of the accommodation, winch houses, blocks, winches, hawsers and other paraphernalia. The cargo hatches are gone, revealing the full cargo of Best Welsh still in place. Pots and pans still hang in the Galley where they are now concreted to the walls above a large stove. Although the wooden decks have rotted away, all the portholes are still in place, and not a broken glass anywhere. Aft of the Bridge, the funnel is still standing - with only the slightest list to port. On the leading edge is a small ladder up to a magnificent copper steam-whistle. Beyond this, the rear mast is also intact, the lifeboats davits are swung out and at 35m at the stern, the steering gear is available for inspection. Below this, the rudder is at 45m and hard over to starboard. Curiously, one of the four propeller blades is missing. There is external damage to both rear quarters, being slightly more extensive to starboard. Incredibly, the damage that caused the ship to sink is hardly noticeable and none of the cargo of coal appears to have spilled out.

The vessel is not on any of the regular Diving routes and, unfortunately, does not enjoy the high levels of underwater visibility one expects from the Red Sea, 15-20m being normal. That said, corals are growing on the decks and the fish life can only be described as prolific. First thing in the morning Jacks and Tuna are seen feeding on the large shoals that congregate here and in the evening only the largest Grouper are found.