As the sinking of the SS Ellan Vannin nears its 100th anniversary, an artefact salvaged from the wreck has added a new element to the tragedy.
The Steam Packet passenger ship sank at the mouth of the Mersey on 3rd December 1999; the lives of all on board were lost and most of the wreckage was never recovered.
Now, fresh investigations at the Manx Museum have added a new perspective to past research into the Ellan Vannin.
Christopher Weeks, Conservator for objects at the Manx Museum, has been undertaking an in-depth technical examination of one of the lifebuoys salvaged from the Ellan Vannin.
He says, "It has turned out to be one of the most physically complex and significant objects I have worked on at Manx National Heritage."
Although in a fair condition, the buoy was dirty and discoloured, and its lead paint was starting to crack; it was clear that it required professional conservation.
Christopher began by taking paint samples and examining them under a microscope. At least 11 repaints were identified, with dirt layers between each.
The lifebuoy was found to be made of a painted linen fabric wrapped around a cork core.
Evidence of a ship’s name was also detected beneath the layers of paint, which infrared analysis will be able to identify.
The lifebuoy was cleaned with a 5% solution of tri-sodium citrate, which targets certain portions of the dirt layer without damaging the object itself, and is well-suited to this kind of unvarnished paint surface.
The paint and canvas were strengthened with an acrylic resin and solvent solution, injected into the canvas with a syringe; this is intended to reinforce the bond, weakened in places, between the canvas and paint.
Once the lifebuoy was clean, Christopher focussed on its future preservation. The sea salt content of the buoy was tested as this can have an effect on the corrosion of the paint. Christopher then assessed the best conditions for the future display and storage of the object.
A new display case has been designed and constructed from chemically inert, lightweight aircraft flooring and UV filtered Perspex.
This will enable MNH staff to move the lifebuoy without removing it from its case, and will protect it from the most harmful of the sun’s rays.
The new case will be completely sealed and will contain hidden environmental logging and conditioning equipment designed to maintain the case interior at a constant humidity, and so to avoid movement of the canvas and associated paint loss in the future.
As one of the few items salvaged from the Ellan Vannin, the buoy is considered priceless. Now, thanks to the work of Christopher Weeks, the public will have a tangible reminder of the wreck's history for many years to come.
Pictured: The Ellan Vannin Lifebuoy undergoing conservation in 2009
