SL/E/KOMA/M/30

This shipwreck is positioned at a maximum depth of 8m, in the close vicinity of the coast of Komari, an area which south to the point Sangamankanda and about 88km southeast of Batticaloa. Constructed by Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Iron Company Ltd., in Newcastle-upon-Type (England) and owned by Ellerman City Line Ltd. in Glasgow (Scotland), SS City of Mysore was employed as a British cargo ship, starting from 1914. This iron vessel weighed 5294t and was 122.2m (401ft) in length and 15.5m (50ft 8in) in breadth. The hull depth of the ship was 9.1m (29ft 8in). Powered by three boilers and a 3-cycle triple expansion engine with a single propeller, this steam vessel could reach a maximum speed of 12.5knots (nautical miles per hour).

On the 23^rd February 1915, this British steamer was on a voyage from Calcutta (India) to London carrying a cargo of jute, tea and other goods and wrecked by running aground on Kumariya ridge. It is believed that the ship was partially salvaged soon after the incident. It is noteworthy that SS City of Mysore made its maiden voyage on the 09^th June 1914, yet sank in less than a year being commissioned.

Since this wreckage is currently resting 60m northeast of the last known location of the SS City of Mysore in 1915, the wreck is highly believed as the British cargo steamer SS City of Mysore. Initially, this wreck was known as ‘Komari Boiler Wreck’ as it is sunk in the vicinity of the Komari coast. However, since the wreck is in close proximity to the shore, the visibility of the shipwreck is often minimal.