Loss

Date 14 October 1939

Event ID 628547

Category Documentary Reference

Type Loss

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/628547

Steamship WANJA, 4000 ton, of Sweden, master Anderson. Bound from Florida to Sweden. Lost 14 Oct 1939. Whitemill Bay, Otterswick, Sanday, Orkney, 8 miles from Start Point Lighthouse. Crew did not see lighthouse. Crew 26, all saved. Cargo phosphate rock.

[Contemporary] source: Start Point Lighthouse.

(Classified as steel steamship, with cargo of phosphate: former names cited as Esther Elina and Aldebaran, and date of loss as 15 October 1939). Wanja: this vessel was wrecked at Burness, Sanday.

Registration: Helsingborg. Built 1919. 2618grt. Length: 91m. Beam: 14m.

(Location of loss cited as N59 18.00 W2 35.00).

(Whittaker also suggests that this vessel may have been recovered for use as a Scapa Flow blockship under the name Nana, for which see HY40NE 8001 and ND49NE 8049).

I G Whittaker 1998.