The Viscount: Murchadh Breac, Loch Torridon
Steamship (20th Century)
Site Name The Viscount: Murchadh Breac, Loch Torridon
Classification Steamship (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Viscount; Murdoch Rock; Rubha An Fearn; Rubha An Fearna; Fearnmore; Inner Sound; The Viscount
Canmore ID 101930
Site Number NG76SW 8001
NGR NG 70561 61428
NGR Description NG c. 705 612
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/101930
- Council Highland
- Parish Maritime - Highland
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NG76SW 8001 c. 705 612
N57 35 W5 50.4
NLO: Murchadh Breac [Murdoch Rock]: [name: NG 705 612]
Loch Torridon [name centred NG 76 59]
Inner Sound [name centred NG 64 40].
Formerly entered as NG76SW 8437 at cited location NG 7056 6143 [N57 35.0833 W5 50.3333].
(Location cited as NG 706 611; name cited as Viscount).
G Ridley 1990.
Horizontal Datum = UND
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The VISCOUNT was stranded on Murdoch Rock.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
1924. The site was not found during HMS BEAUFORT's survey
7 January 1975.The site was searched for but not found. There is no knowledge of this wreck by the locals.
Report by HMS HECLA,1974.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as iron steamship, with cargo of oats: date of loss cited as 17 February 1924). The Viscount: this vessel stranded on Murcdock Rock (Murchadh Breac, Loch Torridon).
Registration: Glasgow. Built 1892. 383grt. Length: 43m. Beam: 8m.
(Location of loss cited as N57 35.08 W5 50.33).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. The offshore rock of Murchadh Breac (Murdoch Rock) is situated on the S side of the opening of Loch Torridon into the northern end of the Inner Sound.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 4 April 2002.
Loss (17 February 1924)
(Classified as iron steamship, with cargo of oats: date of loss cited as 17 February 1924). The Viscount: this vessel stranded on Murcdock Rock (Murchadh Breac, Loch Torridon).
Registration: Glasgow. Built 1892. 383grt. Length: 43m. Beam: 8m.
(Location of loss cited as N57 35.08 W5 50.33).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Note (4 April 2002)
The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. The offshore rock of Murchadh Breac (Murdoch Rock) is situated on the S side of the opening of Loch Torridon into the northern end of the Inner Sound.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 4 April 2002.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 2050
Name : THE VISCOUNT
Latitude : 573505
Longitude : 55020
Date Built : 1892
Registration : GLASGOW
Type : SS (IRON)
Tonnage : 383
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 43
Beam : 8
Draught : 3m
Position : Exact Position
Loss Day : 17
Loss Month : 2
Loss Year : 1924
Comment : Stranded on Murdock Rk (Murchadh Breac, Loch Torridon)
Cargo : OATS
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 001978
Feature Class : Wreck
State : DEAD
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 57.58472,-5.83889
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 57.58441,-5.84003
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Previous Position : 57.58472,-5.83888
Position Quality : Unreliable
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 5
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : THE VISCOUNT
Type : SS
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 43.3
Beam : 7.7
Draught : 3.5
Tonnage : 383
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : OATS
Date Sunk : 17/02/1924
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Last Sensor : Other
Original Detection Year : 1924
Last Detection Year : 1975
Original Source : Unknown
Last Source : Survey Vessel
Circumstances of Loss : **BUILT IN 1892 BY H FULLEROTN & CO, PAISLEY. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY J HAY & SONS LTD, GLASGOW. ONE BOILER, COMPOUND EXPANSION ENGINE OF 65 NHP, SINGLE SHAFT. MACHINERY AFT BY MUIR & HUTCHINSON, GLASGOW. PASSAGE ABERDEEN FOR SWANSEA. (SIBI). STRANDED ON MURDOCH RK.
Surveying Details : **H1683/24 STRANDED ON MURDOCH RK IN 573505N, 055020W APPROX. NOT SHOWN ON HMS BEAUFORTS SURVEY 1924/5. NCA.
**H2989/74 7.1.75 SEARCHED FOR & NOT FOUND. NO LOCAL KNOWLEDGE OF WK. (HMS HECLA 1974). AMEND DEAD. NCA.
Charting Comments : POSN FOR FILING ONLY
Date Last Amended : 09/12/2009
Date Position Last Amended : 09/12/2009
Project (2013 - 2015)
Project SAMPHIRE was designed to bring professional marine archaeological expertise into local maritime communities. The central focus of the project was to record the unique knowledge of maritime cultural heritage sites on the seabed (and intertidal zone) that is held within local communities. This was done through a programme of face-to-face community engagement, allowing knowledge exchange in both directions. The reported sites were then investigated by the SAMPHIRE Project team with the maximum involvement of local community members at every level, including fieldwork and desk-based research. The project aimed to foster a wider understanding of and interest in local maritime heritage and to promote the stewardship of this valuable local resource.
