THE STORY OF RESURGAM
(RESURGAM - 'I will rise again')
RESURGAM was the first steam powered submarine, built by Rev.George W. Garrett of Manchester, England, in 1879 and wrecked off the coast of Rhyl in 1880. Approximately 41 feet in length and 7 feet in diameter, she is now deteriorating on the sea-bed due to the inabilitiy of official bodies to make the right decisions regarding salvage. When first found, her hull timbers were intact and much of the restraining banding intact. The timbers are now gone and the hull is exposed to the scouring effects of current and sand.
Various theories exist as to why the vessel was not found earlier, but the most likely reason is that she was hidden below the sea-bed, which served to protect her. Now that she is exposed, the risk of damage from collision with heavy anchors or commercial trawling is real. If recovered, the vessel will need to be immersed in a salinity controlled water tank and the metal stabilised through gradual removal of electrolytes. Cost of salvage and recovery has been estimated at in excess of £100,000 by some bodies, but others (including the author of this site) believe that the recovery operation could be carried out for a figure closer to £10,000.
Preservation costs have been estimated as high, as they will be a long-term committment. However, if a local authority were provide an existing building to house the preservation tank and the tank (at cost?) built by some generous steel fabrication firm, the costs could become very affordable, even at local authority level. If the tank was constructed in the correct manner, with viewing ports and overhead walkways, it could allow visitors to North Wales to view the vessel and this in turn would enhance the attractions of the North wales Coast. No doubt, some will disagree with my thoughts but they are here on the Internet to make the public aware that if nothing is done, the vessel will eventually become lost to society.
Diver inspects the propellor of Resurgam(left) and (right) Port side before the wooden hull cladding was lost.
View of the boiler inside the hull, looking aft from the bow. To get this shot the camera was held inside a hole on the port bow. The build-up of silt can be seen extending left down to the bottom right corner of the picture.
The wreck is home to wide variety of marine creatures and is populated with white anemone. Shoals of fish hang suspended around and above the wreck, so plentiful on occasions that to dive Resurgam is more like a dive in continental waters.
(Photographs from a video taken by Richard Bufton.)
©2005 Richard Bufton
Note: The Resurgam is a protected wreck, under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 and it is an offence to dive the designated wreck-site without a license issued by the Secretary of State for Wales.
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