The wreck identified as the MONA lies in 19m of water (2019 survey). It was originally located by fisherman in 1930, and located and examined by the UKHO in 1987. At that time, the wreck was visible, and had a surveyed length of approx 40m, a width of 5m, and lay upright on the seabed, orientated 085 (bow)/ 265 (stern) degrees. It was noted at the time that it lay on a steeply sloping sandwave face. The wreck was not found during a UKHO survey in 2019, but small pieces of possible wreckage were noted during a detailed survey by Bangor University in June 2019 (McCartney 2022).

The wreck was dived on in 1989 and positively identified as the MONA by the divers. It was noted that the superstructure and masts had been swept clear, the bow was smashed, that the holds were full of sand, and that there was much coal lying around the wreck. The twin screws of the vessel were noted, as well as the intact stern, and the fact fact that the ship was partially buried by a sandwave.

Event and Historical Information:
The MONA was steel-hulled screw-steamer built in 1902 at Northwich by W. J. Yarwood and Sons Ltd (Official No. 108859, Yard No. 15). The vessel was 207gt, 28.3m in length, 6.1m width and 2.6m depth. It was powered by a triple expansion engine. The ship was originally built as a dredger, before being converted to a coaster. At the time of loss it was owned by the Yula Steam Trading Co. of Liverpool. Sources online (WreckSite.Eu) suggest the vessel's original use as a dredger led to it being fitted with twin-screws, prior to conversion to a coaster.

On 17 November 1916, the MONA was on passage from Garston to Dublin carrying 250 tons of coal. The ship is reported to have foundered 5 miles northwest by north from Beaumaris lighthouse or at approximately 53 21 00N, 03 57 55W. 

Sources include:

Board of Trade Wreck Return 1916 Part II, Table A, p.12 (1)

Larn and Larn Shipwreck database 2002

Lloyd's Register Casualty Returns, 1 October - 31 December 1916, p.6 (b)

McCartney, I., 2022. Echoes from the Deep. Leiden: Sidestone Press. https://www.sidestone.com/books/echoes-from-the-deep

The North Wales Chronicle, 24 November 1916, p.6

UKHO ID 7436: Contains public sector information, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, from UK Hydrographic Office.

https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?67213

J. Whitewright, RCAHMW, January 2025.

This record was enhanced in 2020 with funding from Lloyd's Register Foundation as part of the project ‘Making the Link: Lloyd's Register and the National Monuments Record of Wales’. Visit Lloyd’s Register Foundation Heritage and Education Centre for more resources.