Mysterious wreck at the entrance to the Hel Port - tugboat Abille

To this day, it is not known what exactly we are dealing with when we talk about a wreck resting at 48m, near the entrance to Hel harbour. For a long time it was thought to be the sea tug Abeille 8, but as time passes, this version seems less and less likely. Gallery from

ByTomasz Andrukajtis

Published: November 2, 2011 - 12:36

Updated: February 9, 2023 - 10:38

Mysterious wreck at the entrance to the Hel Port – tugboat Abille

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Gallery from diving on the Abille wreck

To this day, it has not been possible to unequivocally establish the origin of the wreck or the name under which it sailed. Until recently it was assumed that this is the wreck of the Dutch tug Abilla, which sank in 1936, but most probably it was a German or French ship. Another version of the sinking tells about the year 1945, when the tug helped one of the ships anchoring at the roadstead in Hel during a storm, and then sank during its return. At the same time the sea tug Abeille 8 disappeared from the records, which would support this version.

Just as the Abilla disappeared into the sea and rests in its gloom, the truth about the ship’s origin and history is lost in the pages of history. Will it ever be possible to determine what wreck, with what name and origin, attracts subsequent divers exploring the waters of the Gulf of Gdańsk? Who knows, time will tell how the fate of the Abilla will unfold. It remains for us to visit the site and conduct further research.

The vessel on which the dive is conducted, regardless of the name and time under which it served, was 38.5m long and almost 10m wide. A characteristic feature of the design is the huge chimney, which can be seen at 35m. The tug was powered by a steam engine with three boilers.

Diving at this site requires a little more skill, the right equipment and training. The biggest challenge and danger during the exploration of the tugboat is its depth, as well as the layers of fishing nets and lines floating around the wreck. During the exploration of subsequent parts of the Abilla, we will meet a whole bunch of codfish, which have taken a liking to the remains of the tugboat as a perfect hiding place.

Source: diving.biz

About author

Tomasz Andrukajtis

Editor-in-chief of the DIVERS24 portal and magazine. Responsible for obtaining, translating and developing content. He also supervises all publications. Achived his first diving certification – P1 CMAS, in 2000. Has a degree in journalism and social communication. In the diving industry since 2008.