Saint Oran: Firth Of Clyde
Steamship (20th Century)
Site Name Saint Oran: Firth Of Clyde
Classification Steamship (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) St Oran; St Kenan; 'between Ailsa Craig And Turnberry'; Outer Clyde Estuary; Saint Oran
Canmore ID 102518
Site Number NS10SW 8001
NGR NS 13166 03988
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102518
- Council South Ayrshire
- Parish Maritime - South Ayrshire
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NS10SW 8001 1316 0398
N55 17.6667 W4 56.5833
NLO: Ailsa Craig [name: NX 019 997]
Turnberry [name: NS 203 055]
Turnberry Point [name: NS 195 070].
Formerly entered as NS10SW 9147.
Quality of fix = 0050
Evidence = Echo sounder
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 48
Orientation of keel/wreck = 050230
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The ST KENAN sank following a collision.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
24 July 1940. The vessel sank at 55 20 00N, 004 57 00W, approximately.
Report from Rosyth naval base, 14 July 1940.
17 January 1969. Nothing was found within 1370 metres of the reported position despite intensive search. A wreck was found 2 miles to the south and this was assumed to be the ST KENAN. It was examined on 22 May 1968 in 55 17 39N, 004 56 37W or decca [n brit] red d 11.92 [-0.15], purple g 78.25 [-0.35]. Horizontal sextant angles gave - Pladda lighthouse 98-11 Turnberry Point lighthouse 100-08 Grey Hill. The least echossounder depth was 40.2 metres in a general depth of 48.7 metres. There was a scour pit to the depth of 49.3 metres. The seabed is fine sand and grey mud.
Report by HMS HYDRA, 11 October 1968.
12 May 1981. The site was examined on 27 November 1980 at 55 17 40N, 004 56 35W. The least echosounder depth was 41.3 in a general depth of 48 metres. No scouring was observed. The side scan sonar indicated a height of 6.3 metres, and a length of 65 metres (213 feet) approximately. The vessel is intact and lies with its keel on an orientation of 050/230 degrees.
Report by HMS HERALD.
27 September 1993. This wreck was reported to have been identified as the British steamship ST ORAN which sank on 31 December 1920 following a collision. The bell has been recovered. She was carrying coal and sank between Ailsa Craig and Turnberry.
Report by I G Whittaker, 17 September 1993.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship, with cargo of coal: date of loss cited as 31 December 1920). Saint Oran: this vessel was in collision and sank between Ailsa Craig and Turnberry (Eveleen). Capt. Mitchell.
Registration: Glasgow. Built 1911. 237grt. Length: 37m. Beam: 7m.
(Location of loss cited as N55 17.70 W4 56.60).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The equation suggested by Whittaker (per UKHO) is accepted.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 25 February 2004.
Evidence Of Loss (31 December 1920)
Quality of fix = 0050
Evidence = Echo sounder
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 48
Orientation of keel/wreck = 050230
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The ST KENAN sank following a collision.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
24 July 1940. The vessel sank at 55 20 00N, 004 57 00W, approximately.
Report from Rosyth naval base, 14 July 1940.
17 January 1969. Nothing was found within 1370 metres of the reported position despite intensive search. A wreck was found 2 miles to the south and this was assumed to be the ST KENAN. It was examined on 22 May 1968 in 55 17 39N, 004 56 37W or decca [n brit] red d 11.92 [-0.15], purple g 78.25 [-0.35]. Horizontal sextant angles gave - Pladda lighthouse 98-11 Turnberry Point lighthouse 100-08 Grey Hill. The least echossounder depth was 40.2 metres in a general depth of 48.7 metres. There was a scour pit to the depth of 49.3 metres. The seabed is fine sand and grey mud.
Report by HMS HYDRA, 11 October 1968.
12 May 1981. The site was examined on 27 November 1980 at 55 17 40N, 004 56 35W. The least echosounder depth was 41.3 in a general depth of 48 metres. No scouring was observed. The side scan sonar indicated a height of 6.3 metres, and a length of 65 metres (213 feet) approximately. The vessel is intact and lies with its keel on an orientation of 050/230 degrees.
Report by HMS HERALD.
27 September 1993. This wreck was reported to have been identified as the British steamship ST ORAN which sank on 31 December 1920 following a collision. The bell has been recovered. She was carrying coal and sank between Ailsa Craig and Turnberry.
Report by I G Whittaker, 17 September 1993.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship, with cargo of coal: date of loss cited as 31 December 1920). Saint Oran: this vessel was in collision and sank between Ailsa Craig and Turnberry (Eveleen). Capt. Mitchell.
Registration: Glasgow. Built 1911. 237grt. Length: 37m. Beam: 7m.
(Location of loss cited as N55 17.70 W4 56.60).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Note (25 February 2004)
The equation suggested by Whittaker (per UKHO) is accepted.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 25 February 2004.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 1750
Name : SAINT ORAN
Latitude : 551742
Longitude : 45636
Date Built : 1911
Registration : GLASGOW
Type : SS (STEEL)
Tonnage : 237
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 37
Beam : 7
Draught : 3m
Loss Day : 31
Loss Month : 12
Loss Year : 1920
Comment : Collision and sunk between Ailsa Craig and Turnberry (EVELEEN). Capt. Mitchell
Cargo : COAL
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 004063
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Non-dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 55.29444,-4.94306
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.29445,-4.94421
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Position Method : Electronic Distance Measuring System
Position Quality : Surveyed
Position Accuracy : 25.0
Depth : 41.0
Depth Method : Found by echo-sounder
Depth Quality : Least depth known
Water Depth : 48
Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : ST ORAN
Type : SS
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 37.2
Beam : 6.6
Draught : 2.8
Sonar Length : 65.0
Shadow Height : 6.5
Orientation : 50.0
Tonnage : 237
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : COAL
Date Sunk : 30/12/1920
Scour Depth : 0.0
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Last Sensor : Acoustic Sensor
Original Detection Year : 1920
Last Detection Year : 1981
Desk Based Assessment (28 November 2014)
Saint Oran. Steel Steamship built in 1911. Characterising Scotland's Marine Archaeolological Resource database places this wreck c. 68m to the east of the UKHO position for the live wreck of the St Oran. The Canmore position is in accordance with the UKHO position. The wreck has been dived and the hull is recorded to be substantially intact, although deck structures, the mast and the funnel have collapsed (Moir and Crawford 2004: 148).
Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 28/11/2014.
Desk Based Assessment (28 November 2014)
Name: St Oran
Position: 55.29445, -4.94421
Basis for Identification: The bell has been recovered by divers.
Shipbuilder: Scott & Son, Bowling
Build Date: 1911
Loss Date 1920
Vessel type: Steamship
Surviving Features and Condition: UKHO (1969). Wreck located- depth 132 in general depth 160ft. Scour depth 162ft.
UKHO (1980): Wreck located using trisponder, least e/s depth 41.3 in gen depth 48mtrs. No scour. Dual Control Side Scan Sonar indicated the height is 6.3mtrs, length 65mtrs, approx., and the wreck is intact, lying 050/230 deg.
Moir and Crawford (2004): Wreck largely intact. The engine room, stern, accommodation, forecastle and hold are visible. Deck structures, funnel and mast have collapsed.
Moir and Crawford (pers. comm 2015). Have dived the wreck 3-4 times. The wreck lies in an area of trawling
Seabed and type and marine environment: Silty seabed. The depth of the seabed id recorded at 48m by the UKHO. Divers have noted trawling gear in this area and indicate that it is possible the wreck may be threatened by this activity. Surface sediments of Sand and Mud recorded by the Institute of Geological Sciences (Deegan et. al. 1973) .
Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 28/11/2014.
Project (October 2014 - April 2015)
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