S.S. Kingston

(aka Sarah H / Sara H)

Built on the River Wear, in the Oswald yard at Sunderland (England) for the Commercial Steam Shipping Company in 1871. She was 262 ft long and grossed 1449 tons and was described as a brigantine rigged iron hull screw steam ship.

Like the Carnatic and Ulysses she was a hybrid - rigged for sail and powered by steam. Due to low working pressure of boilers and inefficient engines, sail was essential to extend the working range of vessels of this type. Not until high pressure boilers and triple expansion engines came along did sail truly give way to steam power.

Constructed: 1871 (Sunderland, England)
Wrecked: 1881
Length of ship: 80m (262ft)
Wreck location: Shag Rock, Egypt.
Depth range of wreck: 6m to 16m

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Why is she often mistakenly called the Sarah H?

The wreck of the 'Kingston' is commonly referred to as the Sarah H (or Sara H). This was the name that the wreck had historically been called before it's true identity was known, and it has proved quite difficult to dissuade people from using it even many years after is has been positively identified as the Kingston. There is no ship wreck called the Sarah H. It received this name from the group of divers that discovered the wreck, some time in the mid 1990's. The wreck was named 'Sarah H' after the skipper of the dive boats wife, Sarah Hillel, who was also a dive master as the time.

Final Voyage

The Kingston left Cardiff (Wales) on the 28th January 1881 bound for Aden with a crew of 25. She had onboard a cargo of 1210 tons of coal, plus 530 tons in her bunkers. On the 16th Feb, at 8:15 in the morning she passed through Suez. By 6pm she was abreast Ras Gharib, and by 10.50pm she was nearing the Ashrafi lighthouse. The weather was fine but cloudy, and the sea smooth. The Kingston was making full speed, a steady 9 knots. At this point the Master, Thomas Richard Cousins altered course "a quarter point to the southward", to counteract the force of the tide termed 'pulling'. At 11:45pm he ordered the second mate to go and set the fore topsail. The lookout was called from his post to assist in hauling the sheet home. As the two men went aft to trim the yards the ship struck at 11:50pm. An anchor was put out astern and for the next two hours she was put full astern, but held fast. The order was given to jettison her cargo. The steamship F.W. Ward came along side, declining to assist in pulling the Kingston off, but offering passage for her crew.

By the 18th Feb the crew had jettisoned some 70 tons of coal and another steamship the COLUMBIAN came alongside, offering her services which were accepted and a hawser attached aft. The Kingston held fast and the COLUMBIAN left. The Kingston began to take on water that evening and by the 19th Feb the master had ordered the crew to abandon ship. The mate and 16 of the crew gaining safe passage on the ALMORA. The rest of the crew, including the master, chief engineer, second mate and 5 crewmen remained on board until the fires went out at about 6pm on the 20th. They made it safely to Gobul island and stayed there until the 24th, when running out of water, they put out and were taken aboard the STRATHMORE and landed at Suez. The Kingston was gradually battered to pieces where she had struck fast on the reef.

The Wreck Today

All that remains of the vessel today is a hull - and at first glance the wreck looks worthy of only a quick swim over, an afterthought after diving the nearby Thistlegorm. However those properly briefed will find a wreck full of colour, life and interest. It is easy to see how she came to grief - head on into the reef, indeed her fore section merges with the reef itself, with her rudderpost resting in 14 metres of water upright. The rudder and prop have been a backdrop for many a photograph. All of her wood has long since dissolved, leaving her uprights and cross bracings open - and easy to explore. Her boilers and condensers sit just below the surface and her engine lies over to the starboard side of the ship.

Descend down to 16 metres off the stern, taking in the towering hull above. Looking right, the crows nest lies in 14 metres. Turn back towards the hull, passed the fan corals and through the rudder post - watch out for many nudibranchs and invertebrates on the hull. Turn right. You should now be swimming with the hull on your right - up to 8 metres where there is a break in the hull - look left for shoals of fish. Swim in through the break in the hull - you are now in the heart of the ship - above are cross beams a winch and a spare propeller. Meander carefully through the uprights and what was once the engine room. As the stern approaches look for the steering helm. Glide over the starboard side along the gunwhales watching out for attacking surgeon fish! The engine lies spilled out below, boilers to the left. Several uprights come into view - almost temple like. At 6 metres swim away from the wreck along the reef.

The surrounding reef is perhaps one of the very best in the area - huge shoals of yellow stripped goatfish, sweetlips, antheas and fusiliers hang over some beautiful hard and soft corals. Tuna, turtles and dolphins are regular visitors. Care is needed with resident surgeon fish - they are very brave, aggressive and territorial.

Although this an ideal third dive it can also be a superb early morning dive and between 11am-3pm the light and colours can be quite stunning. When the conditions are right it is a photographers paradise. However it must be noted that with a swell running the site can be quite tricky. The current can be very strong and often splits directly over the reef - which of course then lends to a great drift along the reef (on your left) until the current meets a counter current coming the other way. When this occurs divers often end up in an eddy - a good collecting point for the rib.

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