SL/S/GHRB/M/10

The Galle Harbour Boiler Wreck 02, another enigmatic and unidentified steamship, rests in proximity to the approach channel of Galle Harbour. Its discovery was initially made during the Galle Harbour project (1992-1998) through side scan sonar exploration, leading to the site being recorded and designated as GHB, an iron wreck. However, no further investigations were conducted at that time. Subsequently, in 2007, the wreck was plotted again during an Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) conducted by the Department of Archaeology with technical assistance from the Western Australian Museum.

Building upon the information gathered from the AIA report and records, the Maritime Archaeology Unit launched an extensive investigation in 2012 and later in 2022 to record and identify the wreck more comprehensively. As a result, the scattered remains of the wreck were documented at a depth of approximately 13 meters on the western side of the harbour entrance channel.

Evidently, the ship veered off course from the approach channel, eventually colliding with the shallow reef. While a substantial portion of the iron hull and superstructure had been salvaged, the site still exhibits prominent features, including two large boilers, the propeller, rudder, and aperture, which provide valuable insights into the ship's construction and propulsion system.

The size of the wreck sets it apart from other steam wrecks in Galle Harbour, indicating that it was likely a much larger vessel. Certain points of the wreck offer opportunities for penetration, inviting divers to explore its interior.

Marine life thrives around the wreck site, attracting fishing boats to the area. As a result, fragments of nylon ropes, fishing nets, and garbage can be observed amid the remnants of the shipwreck. Divers must exercise utmost caution while exploring the site, as the proximity to the approach channel exposes them to potential hazards from ship movement.