Wreck of the steamer S/S Helge - video

The steamer S/S Helge was built by the Scottish shipyard Hemderson, Coulborn & Co. in 1869. For those times an enormous sum of £14,000 was paid for the vessel! After her completion the vessel joined the fleet of one of the Danish shipowners.

The three-masted ship measured 61 metres in length and 8.5 metres in width, with a draft of 4.5 metres. The whole ship was powered by two four-cylinder steam engines, transmitting power to two propellers. After being sold to another Danish shipowner, the vessel was renamed A.Asgeirsson. In February 1915. Helge becomes the property of Baron Wrede. This is also the last year that the ship traveled the trade routes.

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During World War I, when the Aland Islands were under Russian rule, contraband in the form of gunpowder was discovered on board the S/S Helge during an inspection. As a result of these events, the ship, travelling from Sweden to Finland, was sunk by the German submarine U-26. The crew were allowed to change to lifeboats beforehand.

Despite the detonation that sent the ship to the bottom, the wreck is still in one piece. To dive on it, we will have to go to a depth of 43-52 metres, where the S/S Helge rests tilted slightly to starboard. The condition of the wreck is sensational. Although in this region it should not surprise anyone in particular.

Among the more interesting elements one can still find a spare steering wheel or carved wooden balustrades, once surrounding the stern section. A gem for exploration fans will be the engine room, where many pieces of equipment have been preserved.

If we take the time to explore and look at the area between the wheelhouse and the winch, we find the S/S Helge ship’s bell still on the wreck. Not far from it there is also a rudimentary steering wheel.

When planning a dive on this wreck, it is advisable to focus on a particular area, as it is impossible to view the entire wreck in one descent. The wreck belongs to the medium-difficult ones, however it requires a proper planning of gases and decompression.

Source: divealand.com