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Galle

SL/S/KOSG/M/31

MV Tricolor · MV Tricolor /Kosgoda wreck

Period
Colonial - British
Year sunk
1931
District
Galle
Depth
55.00–65.00 m
Vessel type
Bulk Carrier

Overview

MV Tricolor is one of the deepest known shipwrecks in Sri Lanka. it was a Norwegian diesel-powered motor vessel for general cargo.  The ship was built in 1925 and sank 0n 05 January 1931 after caught in the fire with an internal explosion. Today, the ship lies about 15km west of Kosgoda at about 65-meter depth.

Tricolor was sunk when she was sailing from Colombo Port to Yokohama. After the accident, SS Porthos, a French steamer was able to rescue 31 crew members and all ten passengers, five crew members including the Captain of the ship died with the explosion.

Forward midships 18 Mar 2017 © D. Jayawardena / Ghosts of the Deep - Diving the Shipwrecks of Sri Lanka
A large structure 22 Feb 2014 © D. Jayawardena / Ghosts of the Deep - Diving the Shipwrecks of Sri Lanka
The bow 10 Mar 2009 © Ajith Fernando

Location

District: Galle

Province: Southern

Depth profile

55–65 m

Protection & status

Access
None
Legal status
None
Archaeological value
Low
Physical protection
None
Degradation
Corrosion
Threat
Looting
Threat
Deterioration

Vessel chronology

1931

Year sunk

1925 – 1931

Time period estimate

References & publications

  • Jayawadena, D. (2016) Ghosts of the Deep - Diving the shipwrecks of Sri Lanka, Vijitha Yapa Publications, Colombo, pp.266-271.

Record provenance

Recorded
2009-03-01
Last updated
2021-05-12
Biodiversity survey
Incomplete

Data: National Shipwreck Database / CCF–MAU