SL/E/PASI/M/16

This shipwreck is positioned at a maximum depth of 7m, about 3km off the coast of Pasikudah, an area which is about 28km north from Batticaloa towards Trincomalee. Constructed by Stephen & Sons Ltd. in Glasgow (Scotland), SS Gladys Moller was employed as a British cargo ship, starting from 1906. This iron vessel weighed 4,821t and was 121.9m (400ft) in length and 15.9m (52ft) in breadth. The hull depth of the ship was 8.3m (27ft 2in). Powered by three boilers with a single propeller, this steam vessel was of 481-horsepower and could reach a maximum speed of 12knots (nautical miles per hour).

SS Gladys Moller is reported to have sunk on the 07^th November 1942 due to running aground and currently lies on a rocky seabed.

Since there are four wrecks found within the vicinity of one square kilometer of the said location, it has first been difficult to separately identify each ship. Hence, Mr. Darshana Jayawardene, who has made a publication on the sunk ships in Sri Lanka, has identified this place as ‘The Graveyard of Shipwrecks’. However, further investigations carried out by the Maritime Archaeology Unit of Galle has revealed that the longest wreck among the four, is 125m long and 17m wide, which is closer to the aforesaid fact sheet data of the original ship. Furthermore, the remaining three ships that are found in the close vicinity are less than 108m in length. Accordingly, it has been confirmed that the said longest wreck within that wreck accumulation is the British Steam Cargo ship, SS Gladys Moller.

built: 1906 nationality: british purpose: transport type: cargo ship propulsion: steam 

builder: Stephen & Sons Ltd. - Alexander Stephen, Glasgow   engine by: Stephen & Sons Ltd. - Alexander Stephen, Glasgow

tonnage: 4821 grt dimensions: 121.9 x 15.9 x 8.3 m material: steel

engine: 1 x 3 cyl. triple expansion steam engine, single shaft, 1 screw, 3 single boilers, 9 corrugated furnaces

power: 481 n.h.p. speed: 12 knots

cause lost: ran aground (wrecked) date lost: 07/11/1942