OZONE
LocationPort Phillip Bay, Indented Head VHR NumberS511 Date lost1925 Year of construction1886 Official number88947 |
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Statement of Significance
The Ozone is socially significant as one of the well known 'Bay Steamers' that used to ply Port Phillip and Corio Bay with passengers on short trips and excursions. The Bay Steamer 'wings' on Station Pier and jetties such as at Clifton Springs, Queenscliff and Portsea are other reminders of this era. The Ozone is also recreationally significant as an easily accessible shipwreck site that can be snorkelled and dived, with boilers, steering quadrant, paddlewheels and bow section providing interest and a home for marine life.
| Physical Description | |
|---|---|
| Construction Material | Iron |
| Hull Details | Top speed 19 knots; service speed over 18 knots; 2 funnels. One deck and a promenade. Paddle wheels 21' diameter. Originally 2 masts. Green hull, white superstructure topeed by two orange funnels (UID 63) |
| Propulsion | Steam - Paddle |
| Engine Specification | 1st engine built by Messrs Rankin and Blackmore of Greenock (UID 327) replacement built in Melbourne (UID 169) |
| Engine Builder | Direct acting diagonal compound engines 47" & 85". 314 HP; 2 cy (UID 63, 169, 327) See also image on site file for old engine. New engines in 1901 |
| Number of Masts | 1 |
| Length / Breadth / Depth | 260.0 Feet / 28.1 Feet / 10.0 Feet |
| History | |
| Builder | Napier Shanks & Bell |
| Built Date | 1886 |
| Built Port / Country | Glasgow / Scotland |
| Registration Number | 1886 |
| Registration Port / Country | Melbourne / Australia |
| Former Details of Registration | Owned by Bay Steamers Ltd (subsidiary of Huddart Parker Ltd) for most of working life. |
| Details |
Engaged for nearly 39 years in day excursions in Bay. Faster than most competitors. John Hill paid only a few hundred pounds but worth about 2,000 pounds to a shipbreaker. Success of Ozone had prompted Huddart Parker to build Hygeia, larger and faster (1891) and Weeroona (1910). Fall off of traffic caused lay-off of Ozone from 1918. Hull became a breakwater for small craft. During its career involved in three collisions.
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| Uses of Vessel | |
| Primary Use | Transport |
| Secondary Use | Passenger - Coastal |
| Voyage Details | |
| Date Lost | 1925 |
| Owner | Capt W.G. Forbes Bay Steamers Ltd. (subsidiary of Huddart Parker Ltd), sold privately after unsatisfactory auction to John Hill, wrecker, of North Melbourne, of Melbourne Salvage Co. Hull sold privately to unnamed purchaser after unsatisfactory auction. |
| Cause of Loss |
Dismantled and scuttled as a breakwater
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| Further Details | |
| Number of Passengers | 0 |
| Number of Crew Members | 0 |