SL/E/BATT/M/20

This shipwreck is positioned at a maximum depth of 7m, in close proximity off the coast of Silamune, an area which is about 3km east of Batticaloa town. Constructed by Matthew Pearse & Co. Ltd. in Stockton-On-Tyne (England), SS Brennus was employed as a British cargo ship starting from 1878. This iron-hulled vessel weighed 1494t and was 73.1m (240ft) in length and 10.1m (33ft) in breadth, and was powered by a compound steam engine with a single propeller.

On the 7^th July 1881, this British cargo steamer was on a voyage from Visakhapatnam (India) to London carrying a cargo of Unrefined sugar (Juggary) and wrecked due to running aground at 5km Northeast to the old Batticaloa Lighthouse. Upon the sinking of the ship, the captain of SS Brennus, J.H. Sawle was subjected to an official investigation, yet he was found not guilty as the reef on which the ship collided was not marked on the naval maps. Hence, after that accident, navigation maps marked the location as ‘Brennus shoal’.

This wreck is popularly known as ‘Sakkara Kappal’ by the locality meaning ‘jaggary’ and ‘ship’ in the Tamil language due to its cargo. Presently, the wreck parts are heavily covered with corals and the large boilers of the wreck are in shallow, nearly 5m. The wreck has been salvaged from time to time for scrap metal. 

It was built by Matthew Pearse & Co. Ltd., Stockton-On-Tees and owned by Kay R. J., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. It was 73.1 meters in length.

BRENNUS SS was a British cargo steamer of 1,494 grt that ran aground and was wrecked on the 7th July 1881 when 3.5 miles Ne of Batticaloa Light House, E. Ceylon when on route from Vizagapatam for London with a cargo of jaggery Unrefined sugar). 

dimensions:  73.1 x 10.1 x -- m 

engine:  1 x 2 cyl. Compound steam engine, single shaft, 1 screw 

builder:  Matthew Pearse & Co. Ltd., Stockton-On-Tees ,     owner:  Kay R. J., Newcastle-Upon-Tyne