Madame Alice: Firth Of Lorn
Steamship (20th Century)
Site Name Madame Alice: Firth Of Lorn
Classification Steamship (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Bay Fisher; Madam Alice; Oban; Ardmucknish Bay; Camas Nathais; Firth Of Lorne; Madame Alice; Madame Alice (Ex. Bay Fisher)
Canmore ID 102427
Site Number NM83SW 8006
NGR NM 84855 34489
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102427
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Maritime - Argyll And Bute
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NM83SW 8006 8485 3449
N56 27.2083 W5 29.5083
NLO: Firth of Lorn [name centred NM 69 19]
Oban [name: NM 860 300]
Ardmucknish Bay [name centred NM 890 375].
Formerly entered as NM83SW 9056.
Quality of fix = D
Evidence = Divers Report
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 43
Orientation of keel/wreck = SN
Circumstances of Loss Details
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The MADAME ALICE sank following a collision with HMS IOLAIRE.
Surveying Details
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26 February 1918. The wreck's position is given as 56 27 42N, 005 29 10W.
Report by Oban Coastguard.
22 March 1919. The position given is 56 28 00N, 005 30 00W. Report by Stornoway.13 June 1934. The site was not found.
Report by HMS BEAUFORT.
9 April 1987. MADAME ALICE was located at 56 27 12.5N, 005 29 30.5W, co-ordinates fixed by decca. The vessel is lying fully intact and not broken, with a least depth of 32 metres [mean low water springs], in a general depth of 43 metres.
Source: diver report during telephone conversation 9 April 1987.
29 May 1987. The site was located at 56 27 16N, 005 29 51W, and fixed by decca. The least depth was 43 metres. The vessel is fully intact, and about 150 feet (45.7 metres) long, 35 feet (10.6 metres) beam. There are 2 holds amidships, both are silted up. The wheelhouse has collapsed. The vessel is sitting upright, with her bows to the south. The site is marked by white plastic can which shows only at low water.
Report by R Walker.
21 September 1987. The wreck lies on gently sloping seabed with the least depth 32 metres at the bow. The vessel is intact and lying with 45 degree list to port. The holds are open and empty. She presents no hazard to normal navigation but inteferes with fishing activities. There are nets draped over the stern and bow. Position given is 56 27 13N, 005 29 08.5W.
Report by G Hide, Edinburgh.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship, with cargo of empty barrels: former name cited as Bay Fisher, and date of loss as 16 March 1918). Madame Alice: this vessel was in collision and sank 2 miles NW of Oban (Iolaire).
Registration: London. Built 1904. 478grt. Length: 51m. Beam: 8m.
(Location of loss cited as N56 27.33 W5 29.33).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):
A991 1 10ins porthole (broken): found on seabed.
NMRS, MS/829/34.
Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):
A2622 1 telegraph: from seabed.
NMRS, MS/829/35.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 2640
Name : MADAME ALICE (EX. BAY FISHER)
Latitude : 562720
Longitude : 52920
Date Built : 1904
Registration : LONDON
Type : SS (STEEL)
Tonnage : 478
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 51
Beam : 8
Draught : 3m
Position : Exact Position
Loss Day : 16
Loss Month : 3
Loss Year : 1918
Comment : Collision and sunk 2 miles NW of Oban (IOLAIRE).
Cargo : EMPTY BARRELS
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 002707
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Non-dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 56.45332,-5.49292
Horizontal Datum : ETRS 1989
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 56.45332,-5.49292
WGS84 Origin : Block Shift
Previous Position : 56.45347,-5.49180
Position Method : DECCA navigator
Position Quality : Precisely known
Depth : 32.0
Depth Method : Found by diver
Depth Quality : Least depth known
Water Depth : 43
Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : MADAME ALICE
Type : SS
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 51.4
Beam : 7.8
Draught : 3.1
Orientation : 0.0
Tonnage : 478
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : EMPTY BARRELS
Date Sunk : 16/02/1918
Bottom Texture : Mud
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Last Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1918
Last Detection Year : 1987
Original Source : Other
Last Source : Divers