Hastings County: Auskerry, Orkney, North Sea
Steamship (20th Century)
Site Name Hastings County: Auskerry, Orkney, North Sea
Classification Steamship (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Sierra Nevada; Auskerry Lighthouse; Hastings County; Hastings County (Ex. Sierra Nevada)
Canmore ID 102234
Site Number HY61NE 8001
NGR HY 67183 15376
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102234
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Maritime - Orkney
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
HY61NE 8001 675 156
N59 1.6 W2 34
NLO: Auskerry [name: HY 675 163].
Location formerly cited as HY 6807 1856 [N59 3 W2 33].
(Location cited as HY 675 156). SS Hastings County. The remains, still quite impressive, are scattered over several hundred yards of jaggedly rocky foreshore. The engine block, apparently a triple-expansion with cylinder approx 14", 40" and 55". Diameter, about 50" stroke, is lying apart from the bed-plate to which is attached the massive crankshaft and beginning of the propeller shaft, incorporating a multi-collar thrust block. Another major length of main shaft lying some distance away to NE. A boiler is said to be exposed at low spring tides.
(Reference made to issues of The Orcadian and The Orkney Herald between 17 June and 14 July 1926).
RCAHMS 1984 (visited by Dr R G Lamb, August 1983).
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = OGB
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
SS Hastings County, 4178 gross tons, 2559 net, built in America 1920, owned by Lorentz W Hansen, Bergen, went ashore in fog below Auskerry lighthouse on Sunday evening, 13 June 1926, while attempting to make
the Fair Isle passage en route from Hamburg to Montreal.
The mixed cargo comprised largely of toys and teddy bears and two luxury motor-pinnaces carried as deck cargo, subsequently salvaged, as was most of the bunker coal.
Imformation taken from The Orcadian, 17 and 24 June (photo) 1926, and The Orkney Herald, 16, 23 and 30 June and 14 July 1926.
The steamship HASTINGS COUNTY, built in 1920, was wrecked off Auskerry lighthouse, whilst en-route from Hamburg to Montreal. The fore section broke off and sank. The vessel was owned at time of loss by Lorentz W. Hansens Red.
Source: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
7 August 1986. The wreck was dived upon at 59 03 00N, 002 33 00W during 1986. It is very much broken up. The engine crankshaft is laid on foreshore near the lighthouse.
Report by B Winfield, 26 July 1986.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship, with general cargo: former name cited as Sierra Nevada, and date of loss as 13 June 1926). Hastings County: this vessel stranded at Auskerry Light, and was on fire during salvage operations, 28 September 1926.
Registration: Bergen. Built 1920. 4178 grt. Length: 116m. Beam: 16m.
(Location of loss cited as N59 1.10 W2 34.3).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Auskerry lighthouse (HY61NE 10) is at HY 6724 1556.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 24 January 2005.
Orkney Smr Note (August 1983)
The remains, still quite impressive, are scattered over
several hundred yards of jaggedly rocky foreshore. The engine
block, apparently a triple-expansion with cylinders approximately
14in, 40in and 55in diameter, about 50in stroke, is lying apart
from the bed-plate to which is attached the massive crankshaft
and beginning of the propellor shaft, incorporating a
multi-collar thrust block. Another major length of main shaft
lying some distance away to NE. A boiler is said to be exposed
at low spring tides.
Information from Orkney SMR (RGL) Aug 83.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 571
Name : HASTINGS COUNTY (EX. SIERRA NEVADA)
Latitude : 590106
Longitude : 23418
Date Built : 1920
Registration : BERGEN
Type : SS (STEEL)
Tonnage : 4178
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 116
Beam : 16
Draught : 7m
Loss Day : 13
Loss Month : 6
Loss Year : 1926
Comment : Stranded at Auskerry Lt. On fire during salvage ops on 28/9/1926
Cargo : GENERAL
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 000508
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Non-dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 59.02417,-2.57333
Horizontal Datum : ETRS 1989
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 59.02417,-2.57333
WGS84 Origin : Original
Previous Position : 59.05000,-2.55000
Position Quality : Unreliable
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 5
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : HASTINGS COUNTY
Type : SS
Flag : NORWEGIAN
Length : 115.8
Beam : 15.8
Draught : 7.3
Tonnage : 4178
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : GEN INC 2 M LAUNCHES, RUM & TOYS
Date Sunk : 13/06/1926
Bottom Texture : Rock
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1986
Original Source : Divers
Circumstances of Loss : **BUILT IN 1920. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY LORENTZ W HANSENS RED.THREE BOILERS, TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE, SINGLE SHAFT. PASSAGE HAMBURG FOR MONTREAL. WRECKED OFF AUSKERRY, FWD SECTION BROKE OFF & SANK. CREW OF 40 RESCUED. MUCH OF CARGO SALVAGED. CAUGHT FIRE SEPTEMBER 1926 AND WAS BROKEN UP IN A GALE THE FOLLOWING NOVEMBER. (SIBI).
Surveying Details : **H1310/86/20 7.8.86 WK DIVED DURING 1986. VERY MUCH BROKEN UP. ENGINE CRANKSHAFT IS LAID ON FORESHORE NEAR THE LTHO. (B WINFIELD, 26.7.86). POSN 590300N, 023300W FOR FILING ONLY.
POSITIONS BELOW THIS POINT ARE IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND DECIMALS OF A MINUTE
**4.4.01 INS AS NDWPA. BR STD.
**15.5.07 RECORD REVIEWED. POSN ABOVE INCORRECT. CONFIRMATION THAT REMAINS OF WRECK LIE ON FORESHORE NEAR AUSKERRY LT. (K HEATH, TELECON 14.5.07). DELETE NDWPA, AMEND POSN TO 5901.450N, 0234.400W FOR FILING ONLY. BR STD.
General Comments : VERY BROKEN UP
Charting Comments : POSN FOR FILING ONLY
Date Last Amended : 15/05/2007
Date Position Last Amended : 15/05/2007
