Latest news with #SSAlmondBranch
BBC News
27-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Man who bought shipwreck: Are there any benefits?
A diver from Plymouth has bought a World War One shipwreck off the Cornish coast for £300 after he saw it advertised on Facebook Marketplace. Dom Robinson, 53, purchased the SS Almond Branch - a 3,000-tonne cargo ship nearly 330ft (100m) long. But what is it like to own a shipwreck, and what are owners' rights and responsibilities? How do you buy a shipwreck? Mr Robinson said his purchase was signed off by the government's Receiver of Wreck, which is responsible for managing who owns Jason Lowther, associate professor at the University of Plymouth, said buying a shipwreck on Facebook was a "new one on him". Prof Lowther, who specialises in environmental law and underwater cultural heritage law, said: "As far as I'm aware the government stopped selling off these wrecks so the purchase on Facebook is a new one for me, I think it's fantastic in many respects."But really it's just a transfer of title from the salvage from one person to another." Prof Michael Williams, a specialist in underwater heritage, said if someone wanted to buy a warship they would not be able to as it is classed as Crown added: "What you have to bear in mind is there's multiple owners [of a ship and shipwreck]. There's the owner of the hull, the owner of the cargo. "So what exactly have you bought? Have you bought the hull, the hull and the cargo or cargoes? A wreck is a collective term for a number of different interests." What are your rights and responsibilities? As an owner of a shipwreck, you could be responsible if things go Lowther said he would be "reticent" to take a shipwreck on in case there was any potential risk of cargo leakage or bunker oil "which may cause an environmental problem".He said: "The person that owns it becomes responsible in those circumstances for the damage that could be caused as a result of it."Prof Lowther added: "Ultimately the owner becomes liable for any damage. "It doesn't even necessarily depend on their negligence or if someone else might've caused that problem, they're the owner of it." Prof Williams explained it can also be difficult to stop people from accessing the wreck, "probably". "I say probably because one of the things people find surprising is the law has not yet decided whether you have the right to swim in the sea or not," he said. "It's actually undecided. Usually when people buy a wreck they buy the hull, which means you can take bits off it but everyone else is free to take bits off it as well under the law of salvage."It's hard to see why you'd buy it. There's lots of downsides, where's the upside?"As a keen diver, Mr Robinson said he had been looking forward to diving his wreck off Dodman Point in the said it would give him a sense of ownership, which would add to the experience. What are the rules of wrecks and salvaged material? Prof Williams said there were "tens of thousands" of shipwrecks in Devon and Cornwall. "Plymouth Sound is literally littered with wrecks... and there will be more to be found," he said. The Receiver of Wreck has no involvement with the sale of shipwrecks within or outside UK territorial waters but will record ownership to facilitate contact with the owner if items are recovered by someone else from a privately owned finds from wrecks must be reported to the authority within 28 Protection of Wrecks Act forbids diving on dangerous wrecks and restricts access to wrecks of historic, archaeological or artistic importance.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
UK man buys World War I shipwreck for just ₹34,000 after spotting it on Facebook Marketplace
In an unusual purchase, Dom Robinson from the UK has bought a World War I-era shipwreck for a mere ₹34,000 (300 pounds). According to a report by the BBC, Robinson came across the listing for the SS Almond Branch on Facebook Marketplace and wasted no time in making the deal. The 3,300-tonne cargo ship, which spans 330 feet, was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Cornwall on November 27, 1917. Since then, it has remained submerged beneath the sea. A diving enthusiast and shipwreck researcher, Robinson described his excitement upon finding the vessel online. 'I just went along & kind of kicked the tires and I sucked my teeth, and I knew what it was,' he said. Robinson has long been passionate about exploring the sea floor. He uses seabed scans to search for anomalies, which he then investigates. Through his dives, he has discovered around 20 to 25 shipwrecks over the past few years. He shares these underwater adventures with viewers on his YouTube channel. Also read: Astrologer arrested in Myanmar after his TikTok video predicting earthquake sparks panic 'I've identified maybe 20 or 25 shipwrecks in the last couple of years. It's really nice because each shipwreck has got a story associated with it. That's something I find particularly rewarding,' Robinson explained. 'It feels a bit different when you're diving a wreck, and you know that you have a sense of ownership on it.' However, not everyone in his household shared his enthusiasm. Robinson revealed that his wife Suzi, 53, was far from impressed with the purchase. 'When I bought it, my wife was furious,' he admitted, adding that she called the wreck 'a waste of money.' Despite this, Robinson remains hopeful about one particular discovery he still hopes to make—the ship's bell. 'So if anybody finds the bell should report it to the Receiver of Wreck, who will ask me whether I want to keep it or not. And, if they find the bell, then obviously, hands off my bell,' he said. Also read: Kerala family claims they narrowly escaped Pahalgam attack due to salty lunch: 'It saved our lives'
NDTV
25-04-2025
- General
- NDTV
UK Man Buys World War I Shipwreck For Rs 34,000 Only On Facebook
Dom Robinson, a UK citizen, received the bargain of a lifetime when he managed to buy a World War One shipwreck for just Rs 34,000 (300 pounds), according to a BBC report. Mr Robinson saw the advertisement for the SS Almond Branch on Facebook Marketplace and instantly knew he had to get his hands on the wreckage. The 3,300-tonne, 330ft long cargo ship was sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Cornwall on November 27, 1917, and has remained there ever since. Mr Robinson, who has had a passion for shipwrecks since childhood and loves diving, has already taken the plunge underwater to have a look at his prized possession. "I just went along and I kind of kicked the tires and I sucked my teeth, and I knew what it was," said Mr Robinson. Mr Robinson recovers the wreckage by investigating anomalies found by scanning the sea beds around the UK. He also has a YouTube channel where he shares his findings. 'I've identified maybe 20 or 25 shipwrecks in the last couple of years. It's really nice because each shipwreck has got a story associated with it. That's something I find particularly rewarding," he said. "It feels a bit different when you're diving a wreck, and you know that you have a sense of ownership on it." Wife not impressed While Mr Robinson has been left in awe of his newfound prized possession, his wife Suzi, 53, has been less than thrilled. 'When I bought it, my wife was furious, said Mr Robinson, adding that his partner dubbed the wreckage a "waste of money". Though he may not be able to flip the wreckage for any money, Mr Robinson is hoping to find the ship's bell, which he said he would love to keep. "So, if anybody finds the bell, they should report it to the Receiver of Wreck, who will ask me whether I want to keep it or not. And, if they find the bell, then obviously, hands off my bell."
Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- Times
Diver buys First World War shipwreck on Facebook for £300
Facebook Marketplace is usually reserved for second-hand furniture, unwanted tat and the occasional scam, not monuments to history. However, Dom Robinson, 53, a diver and shipwreck fanatic, has taken the plunge on a £300 shipwreck after coming across the advertisement in January. SS Almond Branch, a steam-powered cargo ship, has rested 15m underwater off the coast of Cornwall since it was torpedoed by a German submarine on November 27, 1917. Robinson, who has a YouTube channel called Deep Wreck Diver, contacted the seller, who happened to live near by. 'I've bought bikes off Facebook Marketplace with more hassle,' he said. 'I was like: 'Bingo, this is my opportunity to own a shipwreck.' ' After he paid the seller, Robinson received a letter from a government
BBC News
23-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Diver buys WW1 shipwreck off Cornwall for £300 on Facebook
A diver who has bought a World War One shipwreck off the Cornish coast for just £300 could not resist the opportunity, he wreck of the SS Almond Branch was advertised on Facebook Marketplace, where Dom Robinson, 53, saw it and arranged its Almond Branch, a 3,000-tonne cargo ship nearly 330ft (100m) long, was originally bought by someone in the 1970s who hoped to find something valuable on it but it turned out to be just a "big pile of rusting iron", Mr Robinson told BBC Radio said he had already dived on the wreck off Dodman Point before buying it and was looking forward to diving it again in the summer, with a sense of ownership adding to the experience. Rules on wrecks and salvaged material There are thousands of wrecked vessels and aircraft around the UK coast, according to the Receiver of Wreck, which lists the requirements of shipwreck owners and anyone who dives on wrecks and salvages material from itShipwreck owners have the right to sell such propertyThe Receiver of Wreck has no involvement with the sale of shipwrecks within or outside UK territorial waters but will record ownership to facilitate contact with the owner if items are recovered by someone else from a privately owned wreckAll finds from wrecks must be reported to the authority within 28 daysThe Protection of Wrecks Act forbids diving on dangerous wrecks and restricts access to wrecks of historic, archaeological or artistic importance The British merchant ship was torpedoed near Mevagissey by a German submarine in Robinson, a project manager from Portsmouth, Hampshire, said his purchase was signed off by the government's Receiver of Wreck, which is responsible for managing who owns was after he had dived down to the wreck to check again what he was buying."I just went along and I kind of kicked the tires and I sucked my teeth, and I knew what it was," he said. Mr Robinson said he first found a passion for exploring shipwrecks as a child and had been diving for more than 40 years."It feels a bit different when you're diving a wreck, and you know that you have a sense of ownership on it," said Mr Robinson, who has more than 9,000 followers on there is no money to be made from the wreck, Mr Robinson said he hoped to find the ship's bell, which he said he would love to said: "So, if anybody finds the bell, they should report it to the Receiver of Wreck, who will ask me whether I want to keep it or not."And, if they find the bell, then obviously, hands off my bell."
