SS Passages (Jurby Beach)

Steam trawler registered in Fleetwood, ran aground in a fierce gale on 3 December 1931 while returning from herring fishing off Northern Ireland. The crew survived but the cargo of herring had to be dumped. A local farmer bought the wreck to use as a sea defence, which is why it STILL sits on the beach 95 years later. The engine protrudes prominently at low tide, and the general outline of the hull is clearly visible. WHY VISIT: One of the few IoM shipwrecks you can walk to — no diving required. At low spring tides you can examine the wreck closely. Metal detecting around and beyond the wreck in the wet sand produces rivets, fittings, and debris. After winter storms, new material is regularly exposed. Bring a camera — it's incredibly atmospheric.