But divers have pledged to return next year to explore the Evelyn Rose – which went down off the coast of Scotland on New Year’s Eve 1954.

Twelve of her crew perished in the sinking at Ardtornish Point in the Sound of Mull, but she was brought to light by a dive which produced remarkable footage of her on the seabed.

With intense interest generated in Fleetwood, there were plans for another dive this year with the hope of bringing part of the ship to the surface.

But Leeds-based diver Steve Brown has been beaten by the clock.

He said: “Basically we just run out of time.

“We were busy with other dives and then we had a run of very bad weather with winds.

“But we will have a good go at it next year for certain.

“I can’t say exactly when but we are still as keen as ever to the dive.”

The second dive is being urged by former Fleetwood man Dick Barton whose father, also called Dick, died on the ship. Mr Barton had been researching the loss and hoping to organise a dive when he discovered that Mr Brown had already done one in July 2005.

Among the footage taken by Mr Brown was the ship’s telegraph – used to signal the engine room.

It is show in the ‘Stop’ position, evidence Evelyn Rose took only three minutes to go down after striking rocks below the Ardtornish Point light.

Mr Barton said: “I would be delighted if Steve brought something back.

“The ship’s bell has to be somewhere. It could go on display in Fleetwood Museum.”