Dive the SS Fernedale & BD Parat
Type: Steam Ship Name: Fernedale Characteristics: JOLF Built: 1925
Boatyard: Deutsche Werft in Hamburg Tonnage: 4302 Gross, 2450 Net
Dimensions: 382.7 feet long and 53.4 feet wide Nationality: German ex. Norwegian
Shipowners: Taken over by the Germans from Glitre AS (Fernly & Eger) Oslo
Shipwrecked: 12/16/1944 Depth: 6 to 40m
A bit of history
15. December 1944 meets a German convoy of six ships with M/S Ferndale as leading vessel in the Sognefjord in the dark. The airport at Herdla is out of service, and allied aircraft can devastate convoys without danger of hitting German fighter planes. This forced the German convoys to only go at night. Captain Karl Wegner of Ferndale find the entrance to Krakhella, and keeps the northeast to avoid the Seal Rock. Strong downstream fools the captain, and Segl Stein appeared suddenly up, Ferndale goes on for full load at 04.46. All other boats in the convoy, manages barely to maneuver away, Ferndale is secured and must have the assistance of divers. D/S Wilhelms, the second cargo vessel continues with two escort vessels from Ålesund.
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Voorpostboot V5305 and the tug Fairplay X is with the Fernedale and are waiting for help from Bergen. Salvage steamer Parat arrive in the morning and moored along the stern of Ferndale. High in the sky they see a foreign aircraft and are preparing for battle immediately. At 11.48 1919 attacks the Mosquito aircraft from Banff Strike Wings with machine guns and rockets, the attack are over in minutes. Back in flames are Ferndale and Parat, a Mosquito has gone into the sea and both crew members are dead. The crews trying to extinguish the fire, but the constant explosion of ammunition does the work load hopeless. At 24:43 thunders 8 new Mosquito against the ships, in 500 km / h 30 m above sea level flying against the ships, while the machine guns whistles. V5305 gets a hit on a Mosquito that goes right into the rock wall at the Seal Rock. Parat sinks by the injuries that has been applied. Ferndale's on fire and sinking slowly into the depths. It lays by on the bottom just a few meters from the bow of Parat.
BD Parat
Salvage steamer Parat was built in Trondheim in 1905, the Norwegian Salvage Company, was at 135 tonnes and 106 feet long. During the war she was under German control and ended his days in the salvage of Fernedale. The ship is in good condition and one can still see anti-aircraft guns lying next to the bow on the port & starboard side. The ship is right on the sandy bottom and is a magnificent sight. Helmets that were on the ship is salvaged, and one of them can be seen on the Bergen Maritime Museum where it is exhibited. Pump and hoses are still there as a witness that this was a diving vessel. A very special experience to dive this vessel which, together with Fernedale form a perfect dive, where one can ascend to the surface without loss of time ... Fernedale gives you a perfect ascent to the surface. Diving is really recommended