Kinsol: Arranman's Barrels, Polliwilline Bay, Mull Of Kintyre, Firth Of Clyde

(Classified as steam lighter: no cargo specified, but date of loss cited as 30 September 1939). Kinsol: this vessel was wrecked whilst on salvage work on the Saint Conan [NR70NW 8002].

Registration: British. Built 1909. 89grt.

(Location of loss cited as N55 19.40 W5 33.18).

I G Whittaker 1998.

Quality of fix = PA

Horizontal Datum = OGB

Circumstances of Loss Details

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The steamship KINSOL sank on Arranman Barrels during the salvage attempt on the steamship ST CONAN, which commenced on 4 October 1939.

Report by T W Jones, 12 March 1982.

Source: Hydrographic Office, 1995.

Horizontal Datum = OGB

Orientation of keel/wreck = 070/250

Surveying Details

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20 July 1981. The wreck of an unknown salvage vessel was reported lying about 15 metres north of St Conan (see 55 19 25N, 005 33 11W) with its bows into the reef and its stern in 5 metres of water at low water springs. The wreck is lying with its keel on an approximate orientation of 070/250 degrees (magnetic). The vessel is about 300 tons and according to local sources was a salvage vessel. This is supported by brass fittings from St Conan which were found in the hold.

Report by T W Jones, July 1981.

Hydrographic Office 1995.

Arranman's Barrels are not noted on the 1997 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map, but the name appears to apply to the offshore rock that is noted as Oitir Mor, on the SE side of the Mull of Kintyre between Polliwilline Bay and Macharioch Bay.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 12 June 2002.

The current edition of the OS (GIS) MasterMap notes Arranman's Barrels as a group of small stacks to the NW of Oitir Mor.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 4 May 2009.

Whittaker ID : 1069

Name : KINSOL

Latitude : 551924

Longitude : 53311

Date Built : 1909

Registration : BRITISH

Type : STEAM LIGHTER

Tonnage : 89

Tonnage Code : G

Loss Day : 30

Loss Month : 9

Loss Year : 1939

Comment : Wrecked whilst on salvage work on 'SAINT CONAN'.

UKHO Identifier : 003980

Feature Class : Wreck

State : DEAD

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 55.32333,-5.55306

Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.32332,-5.55412

WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)

Position Quality : Unreliable

Depth Quality : Depth unknown

Water Depth : 11

Vertical Datum : Mean Low Water Springs

Name : KINSOL

Type : STEAM LIGHTER

Flag : BRITISH

Date Sunk : ??/10/1939

Bottom Texture : Rock

Contact Description : Entire wreck

Original Sensor : Reported Sinking

Original Detection Year : 1939

Original Source : Other

Circumstances of Loss : **SANK ON ARRANMAN BARRELS DURING SALVAGE ATTEMPT ON SS ST CONAN, WHICH COMMENCED 4.10.39. (T W JONES).

**VESSEL WAS BADLY HOLED, ABANDONED BY CREW, AND SANK A FEW HOURS LATER. (ARGYLL SHIPWRECKS)

Surveying Details : **H1310/82/11 SINKING POSN GIVEN AS 551924N, 053311W. (T W JONES, 12.3.82). POSN FOR FILING ONLY. NCA.

**H2885/83 1.5.86 NOT LOCATED. AREA VERY ROCKY WITH HEAVY KELP GROWTH DOWN TO 10MTRS. PRESUMED DISPERSED AMONG THE MANY ROCK GULLIES IN THE AREA. (HMS BULLDOG, HI 165B). AMENDED TO DEAD. NCA.

Charting Comments : POSN FOR FILING ONLY

Date Last Amended : 13/11/2009

No further information found on shipbuilder or build-place of the Kinsol. The vessel is recorded as having been built in 1909 (Moir and Crawford 2014: 49). There is no record of a vessel under the name Kinsol on www.clydesite.co.uk [accessed 01 December 2014] suggesting vessel may not be Clyde-built.

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 28/11/2014.

The maritime archaeology of the Clyde has been identified as a focus for a major study of human interaction with the river through time by the RCAHMS following on from recommendations by the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF). Source to

Sea has been developed as the long-term research programme, of which the research into human connections with the River Clyde forms part. This project has comprised a study of the surviving shipwreck heritage of Clyde-built vessels lost within the Clyde estuary and Firth of Clyde.

This project has collated information from a range of sources and has enhanced knowledge of Clyde-built wrecks within the Clyde. In particular information from recreational divers has proved invaluable and has been the source of detailed information about the current condition of many Clyde-built wrecks, useful for on-going management. A number of wrecks previously recorded as of unknown identity in the RCAHMS database were positively identified during the project and more accurate positional information was established for a number of other wrecks. Additionally, the project identified a potentially significant wreck (Margaret Niven) the remains of which were not previously recorded. This project has also identified a number of other potentially significant wrecks within the Clyde, which reflect both its unique contributions to world-wide shipbuilding and local connections. These wrecks include paddle steamers (Lapwing and Princess of Wales), Clyde Puffers (e.g. Margaret Niven), steam-yachts with military connections (HMS Breda), a dredger (Greenock) and an 18th-century West Indiaman (Lady Margaret). Numerous other wrecks have been identified by this project, and all display some degree of significance.

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology) April 2015