Gothenburg Archipelago · Sweden · Wreck
Södra In-Vinga Nieman (Ryssen)
A Russian wartime supply ship off Södra In-Vinga
The Nieman, called Ryssen, is the wreck of a Russian transport ship that sank in a storm in 1852 at the northwest corner of Södra Invinga, in the outermost coastal band of the Gothenburg archipelago. Its bow stands nearly intact deep on a clay and sand slope, and the site runs past 40 m.
Also known as Nieman, Ryssen.
Where it is and how deep
57.6434° N, 11.6183° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Boats moor in the sound between Norra and Södra Invinga rather than over the wreck. From there the route swims west, rounds the northwest corner of Södra Invinga and continues south; the landmark ashore is the small cove just after the corner.
The wreck lies on a clay and sand slope between 20 and 40 m. The first remains show at about 22–23 m, and more of the hull survives deeper toward the bow, which is close to intact and rises a few metres off the bottom. The stem is at about 35 m, with the bottom beneath it at around 38–39 m, where copper sheathing plates that came loose from the hull lie. On the port side the whole side of the hull can be seen; to starboard it is silted up to the rail.
Part of the cargo is still there, mostly iron bars and rope. On this coast shipworm reaches down to about 20 m, and the wreck shows it clearly: no wood survives above that depth. Three cannons that fell off as the ship sank lie muzzle-down in the slope and can be very hard to find.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Nieman
- Type
- Russian transport ship
- Sunk
- 1852
- Cause
- Storm: it lost its steering, drifted onto Invinga and dragged ashore stern first
- Lies
- On a clay and sand slope at the northwest corner of Södra Invinga, between 20 and 40 m
Nieman was a Russian transport ship carrying supplies to the war in Russia when it sank in a storm in 1852. The ship lost its steering and drifted in toward Invinga; the crew dropped the anchor to slow it down and steer, but it dragged toward land stern first. Once it had run aground, the mast was felled so the crew could get ashore. Legend has it the ship's cash box fell into the water during the climb along the mast, and that treasure has never been found.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime |
Season follows Gothenburg Archipelago: At Trubaduren wolffish are near certain from December to midsummer, and June adds spiny dogfish; March has the coldest water.
Know before you go
- Mooring above the wreck is unsafe: the wash from passing Stena Line ferries can put a boat ashore.
- Visibility can vary a lot, and there can be some current.
Sources
- Södra In-vinga Nieman, "Ryssen" dykplats — dykarna.nu
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap
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