SL/E/IRAK/M/01

This shipwreck is positioned at a depth of 6-9m, about one kilometer off the coast of Irakkandi, an area which is about 25km north of Trincomalee. Constructed at the Glasgow dockyard by Tod & McGregor Company, SS Ava was employed as a passenger ship by P&O Company between the period of 1855-1858. This iron vessel weighed 1620t and was 81.6m (267.8ft) and 10.73m (35.2ft) in length and breadth respectively. The hull depth of the ship was 7.5m (24.6ft). Powered by trunk geared steam engines with a single propeller, the vessel was of 1056-horsepower and could reach a speed up to 12knots (nautical miles per hour). SS Ava could accommodate up to 97 first-class passengers and 30 second-class passengers on board. The vessel was initially employed in service between Southampton of England and Alexandria, and later between Suez and Calcutta.

On the 16^th February 1858, the ship was on a mission in carrying women and children en route from Calcutta to Suez, who got refuged during an uprising in India. Amidst the mission, SS Ava was called to Trincomalee for a landing of £250,000 in species. However, the failure of the captain to obtain sound information of the sea due to the inclement weather resulted in the sinking of the vessel near Pigeon Island in Irakkandi. No casualties were recorded from this incident and most of the mails, cargo and the superstructure were rescued by the divers and several other frights.

Length 81.60m (267.8ft), Breadth 10.73m (35.2ft), Depth 7.50m (24.6ft)

Power 1,056 ihp, Propulsion Single screw, Speed 12 knots,

Passenger capacity 97 first class, 30 second class

Builders Tod & McGregor, Yard Glasgow, Gross tonnage* 1,620 grt

03.05.1855: Launched.
29.06.1855: Registered.
21.07.1855: Ran trials and delivered as Ava for The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Ava was the ancient capital of Burma.
20.08.1855: Left Southampton on maiden voyage to Alexandria, but broke a screw blade and towed to Malta by the paddle packet HMS Medusa, mails and passengers forwarded to Alexandria aboard Valetta.
01.10.1856: Left Southampton via Tristan da Cunha and Galle to Calcutta (arrived 16 December).
09.1856: Collided with Teignmouth brig Blanche and lost a quarter boat.
1857: Gross tonnage re-stated as 1,373 grt.
03.09.1857: Left Calcutta on Lord Elgin’s mission to China.
07.12.1857: Returned to Calcutta where apparently unemployed until 10 February 1858.

16.02.1858: Wrecked on Pigeon Island, 25 km (15 miles) north of Trincomalee while en route from Calcutta to Suez with women and children refugees from the Indian Mutiny. She was to call at Trincomalee to land £250,000 in specie but her Captain failed to take soundings or to heave-to in poor weather. There were no casualties, and some mails were saved and forwarded by Granada while most of the specie and (more importantly) a replacement shaft for Alma, disabled at Aden, were recovered by divers from the steam frigate HMS Chesapeake.