A launch scandal 115 years ago
24 August 1910 was to be a day of celebration at Sigurdsrud in Atrå. The steamship D/S Tinn, built by Kristiansand Mekaniske Verksted, was finally to be launched to carry passengers on Lake Tinn. But the joy was short-lived; as the ship hit the water, something went terribly wrong. The scandal was a fact when the ferry sank immediately, right in front of the spectators. The sinking meant that a brand new ship had to be built to replace the lost vessel.
Today, the wreck lies like a time capsule at a depth of around 100 metres. From Sigurdsrud you can look straight across to Sandviken Camping, unaware that one of the lake's most spectacular wrecks rests just below the surface. The cold, deep freshwater of Lake Tinn has ensured that the D/S Tinn is in remarkably good condition, even after more than a hundred years at the bottom.
Spectacular images from the deep
Even though the wreck is far too deep for ordinary recreational divers, professional expeditions have documented the ship several times. In the autumn of 2023, we were visited by a group of divers led by Erik Haugen, who took fantastic pictures of the ship as it rests today. The wreck was dived on for the first time as early as 1990, and later in 2015 a unique video was made showing the ship's details in the dark depths.
If you want to see the ship with your own eyes (without getting wet!), you can watch Anders Kjeserud's impressive video from the wreck. here. It's a fascinating experience to see the steam engine and tyre as they stand today, a silent reminder of a day in 1910 when everything went wrong.
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