Shipwreck Databases Western Australian Museum

Cheynes II (1984)

Princess Royal Harbour

The 440 ton steam whale chaser Cheynes II was built by the Smiths Dock and Engine Company of Teeseburgh, Middlesbrough. It was originally named the Thorbryn and operated by a Norwegian based whaling company. Between 1962-63 it was owned by Whale Products Co. of Queensland and named Looma II. In 1963 it was bought by the Cheynes Beach Whaling Co, renamed Cheynes II and was engaged in whaling operations in Albany until the company ceased operations in 1978. In 1992 after having been stripped of fittings and lying derelict at the Albany Town Jetty, the Cheynes II broke loose from its moorings in a gale, and grounded on a sandbank in Princess Royal Harbour in 3-4 metres depth. The wreck is clearly visible from Albany.

Ship Built

Owner Cheynes Beach Whaling Co P/L, Albany(later Cheynes Beach Holdings P/L)

Builder Smith's Dock & Engine Company,

Country Built UK

Port Built Teesbank, Middlesborough

When Built 1947

Ship Lost

Gouped Region South-Coast

Sinking Broke loose from town jetty in 1990s drifted and grounded

When Lost 1984

Where Lost Princess Royal Harbour

Latitude -35.056422

Longitude 117.909888

Position Information GPS 2005

Ship Details

Engine triple expansion 1850 HP

Length 47.90

TONA 440.00

Museum Reference

Unique Number 963

Sunk Code Abandoned

File Number 2009/0090/SG _MA-32/92

Protected Not protected State

Found Y

Inspected Y

Confidential NO