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William H Welch (Bow Portion): Sgeir Moal Mhoraidh Shuas, Rubha Nan Sasan, Loch Ewe, North Minch
Liberty Ship (20th Century), Steamship (20th Century)
Site Name William H Welch (Bow Portion): Sgeir Moal Mhoraidh Shuas, Rubha Nan Sasan, Loch Ewe, North Minch
Classification Liberty Ship (20th Century), Steamship (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Loch Ewe Entrance; William H Welch (Fwd Section) (Possibly)
Canmore ID 101911
Site Number NG89SW 8003
NGR NG 81483 92397
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/101911
- Council Highland
- Parish Maritime - Highland
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NG89SW 8003 8148 9240
N 57 52.0667 W 5 41.0833
NLO: Rubha nan Sasan [name: NG 816 921]
Sgeir Maol Mhoraoidh Shuas [name: NG 814 925]
Loch Ewe [name centred NG 84 86].
Formerly entered as Site no. 8419.
For stern portion at NG 7958 9340 [N57 52.55 W5 43.05], see also NG79SE 8001.
Steamer WILLIAM H. WELCH lost 26 Feb 1944, 4.35am. North west corner of Louva or Luva Island, approximately 7 mile from Rudh Pie Lighthouse. Wind north strong to moderate gale with showers of sleet of short duration. Sea rough, heavy ground swell. 65 persons lost, 12 saved.
[Contemporary] source: Donald Mackenzie, Principal Lightkeeper, Rudh Pie Lighthouse.
(Location cited as NG 815 925). Noted as unknown wreck, just off the rocky islet of Sgeir Maol Mhoraoidh Shuas.
G Ridley 1990.
Quality of fix = E
Horizontal Datum = OGB
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
See 57 52 33N, 005 43 03W for details of the loss of the liberty ship WILLIAM H WELCH.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
7 July 1970. The forepart has since broken up
Report by Lloyds from a letter dated 24 June 1970.
9 July 1970. The wreck was located by J Goldby (HMS CONDOR) in the above position.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship: no cargo specified, but date of loss cited as 22 February 1944). William H Welch: fore part only.
Registration: American. Built 1943. 7167grt. Length: 132m. Beam: 17m.
(Location of loss cited as N57 52.55 W5 41.08).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Rubha nan Sasan [name: NG 816 921] is situated within the W side of the entrance into Loch Ewe from the North Minch.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 4 April 2002.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 2066
Name : WILLIAM H WELCH
Latitude : 575233
Longitude : 54105
Date Built : 1943
Registration : AMERICAN
Type : SS (STEEL)
Tonnage : 7176
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 132
Beam : 17
Draught : 17m
Position : Exact Position
Loss Day : 26
Loss Month : 2
Loss Year : 1944
Comment : Fore part only
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 001985
Feature Class : Wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 57.86778,-5.68472
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 57.86743,-5.68590
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Position Quality : Unreliable
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 1
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : WILLIAM H WELCH (FWD SECTION) (POSSIBLY)
Type : LIBERTY SS
Flag : AMERICAN
Length : 134.4
Beam : 17.4
Draught : 10.7
Tonnage : 7176
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : BALLAST
Date Sunk : 26/02/1944
Contact Description : Partial wreck
Original Sensor : None reported
Original Detection Year : 1970
Original Source : Naval Vessel
Circumstances of Loss : **RAN ASHORE IN A STORM IN BLACK BAY, LOCH EWE AND BROKE IN HALF OFF EILEAN FURADH MOR. THE STERN SANK BUT BOWS DRIFTED OFF BEFORE RUNNING AGROUND. WITNESSED BY LOCAL CROFTERS. ON PASSAGE LONDON & TYNE TO NEW YORK IN BALLAST. 62 OF THE COMPLEMENT OF 74 WERE LOST.
Surveying Details : **H3409/70 9.7.70 WRECKAGE LOCATED CLOSE SE OF SGEIR MAOL MHORAIDH IN 575204N, 054105W AND THOUGHT TO BE THE BOWS OF THE WILLIAM H WELCH. (J GOLDBY, HMS CONDOR, HN). NCA, POSN FOR FILING ONLY.
Charting Comments : POSN FOR FILING ONLY
Date Last Amended : 22/01/2001
