Lost WWI Russian Shipwreck Found During North Sea Wind Farm Survey

In a remarkable maritime discovery, surveys conducted for the proposed MarramWind floating offshore wind farm in the North Sea have likely uncovered the resting place of the SS Tobol, a Russian merchant vessel torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1917 during World War I.

The Bahamas registered Fugro Galaxy survey vessel, while sonarl scans for the wind farm project, identified an uncharted wreck matching the dimensions and characteristics of the SS Tobol. This finding potentially solves a 107-year-old maritime mystery regarding the ship’s final location.

ScottishPower announced that the data was gathered during geophysical and environmental surveys for the proposed MarramWind floating offshore wind farm.

A Ship with a Storied Past

Originally built as the SS Cheltenham in Sunderland at the turn of the 20th century, the vessel served a British steamer company before being captured by Russian warships in 1904. Renamed the SS Tobol after the Tobol River in Russia, the ship became part of the Russian Imperial Navy and later joined the Russian Volunteer Fleet in 1916.

On September 11, 1917, the SS Tobol met its fate when it was torpedoed by the German U-boat U-52 while sailing from Blyth to Arkhangelsk. Until now, the exact location of the wreck remained unknown.

Preserving a Piece of Maritime History

Following the discovery, a 250-meter exclusion zone has been established around the wreck, which measures approximately 100 meters in length, 22.5 meters in width, and stands 10.5 meters high. The ship appears to be in good condition, offering a valuable snapshot into early 20th-century naval architecture, particularly its distinctive ‘turret deck’ design.

Colin Anderson, Development Manager for MarramWind, expressed his astonishment at the find. ““This really is an extraordinary find, given that our seabed surveys – which give us vital information about seabed conditions and what that means for the development of MarramWind – covered a distance of around 6,000 miles. he said. “We always expect to come across wrecks when carrying out works like this, but these tend to be smaller vessels and known to the authorities. While the Tobol was known to have been torpedoed in the war, its location was unclear, so to discover it after more than a century and uncover its history is something special.”

Impact on the MarramWind Project

The MarramWind floating offshore wind farm, a joint venture between ScottishPower and Shell, aims to generate up to 3 GW of renewable electricity—enough to power more than 3.5 million homes. The discovery of the SS Tobol adds historical significance to the project, blending advancements in renewable energy with the preservation of maritime heritage.

“This kind of archaeological discovery is an added bonus when considering the benefits MarramWind could bring,” Anderson added. “It could be a game-changer for the industry, and with the likely discovery of the Tobol, MarramWind has already made its way into the history books.”

Collaboration with Authorities

Relevant organizations, including the UK Hydrographic Office and Historic Environment Scotland, have been notified of the find. Discussions are underway to establish a long-term archaeological exclusion zone to ensure the wreck is protected and preserved for future generations.

Toby Gane, Marine and Coastal Cultural Heritage and Archaeology Lead for WSP, highlighted the significance of the discovery. “This discovery of a small –but important ­– piece of a collective national jigsaw puzzle of marine heritage, speaks not only to the global nature of international commerce and alliances in the early 20th century, but also to the interconnectedness and competitiveness of national interests at the time, something still relevant today,” said Gane. “It’s incredible that – more than a century on ­– we finally have a sense of where the SS Tobol likely went down thanks to MarramWind.”

A Window into the Past

The discovery not only solves a long-standing mystery but also offers an opportunity to learn more about the vessel and those who were aboard. While some online sources suggest there were survivors from the sinking, this has yet to be verified.

Anderson hopes the find will provide closure and comfort for the families and descendants of the crew members. “We also need to be mindful that the wreck could be the final resting place for crew members,” he noted.