Ravensheugh: Skerryvore, Atlantic

NL82NW 8001 c. 84 26

N56 19 W7 7

NLO: Skerryvore [name: NL 840 263].

Formerly entered as NL82NW 9168 at cited location NL 8374 2630 (N56 19.4 W7 7).

FOUNDERING OF A GLASGOW STEAMER. At the commencement of the storm last Sunday morning there occurred in the Minch a shipping disaster which has aroused profound and sympathetic interest in Oban, and throughout the whole of the Western Highlands.

The RAVENSHEUGH, Captain Daniels, a steamer of 1116 tons register, owned by Robertson, Mackie & Co., Glasgow was on a voyage from Glasgow to Riga with coal. At about two o'clock on Sunday morning when some 4 miles off Skerryvore lighthouse, struck what is supposed to have been a submerged derelict and soon afterwards sank. It is feared that the Captain, the 1st and 2nd mates, 1st and 2nd engineers, the donkeyman, an able seaman and a fireman, with the cook and steward have been drowned, as told by the 9 survivors who were brought to Oban on Monday afternoon by the Duke of Bedford's steam yacht SAPPHIRE.

The story of the disaster is a most exciting one. When the derelict was struck, the weather, it seems, was clear, the ship was steaming at about 8 knots. The fore peak, however, filled and the Captain decided to make for Tobermory but after the vessel had proceeded for about 8 miles, the holds also filled and the weather at the same time freshening, it was decided about 4.00am to take to the boats. It is conjectured that the second boat, which included Captain Daniels, was impossible to lower on account of the list in the ship. The survivors boat landed, after many hours of buffeting, on the island of Gigha between two and three o'clock on Sunday afternoon. The shipwrecked crew were eventually rescued by the yacht SAPPHIRE, (Capt. Elliot), on Monday morning and taken into Oban.

Source: Oban Times, 4 November 1911.

The captain and nine of the crew had stuck by the ship until she went down, the second boat not having been launched at all. On Friday last, two bodies were washed ashore at Camasmalaig, Loch Slapin [Loch Slapin: NG 57 18], and another body at Loch Brittle [name: NG 40 19], on the west coast of Skye. Three bodies were also washed ashore on Friday at Arisaig [name: NM 64 87]. Three of the ten men missing were never found.

Source: Oban Times, 11 November 1911.

Quality of fix = PA

Horizontal Datum = OGB

General water depth = 10

Circumstances of Loss Details

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The RAVENSHEUGH, built 1881, struck a submerged rock and sank off Skerryvore, whilst en-route from the Clyde to Riga. It was owned at the time of loss by Robertson, Mackie & Co.

Source: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea.

Surveying Details

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20 February 1970. The vessel sank off Skerryvore. The Dictionary of Disasters at Sea gives the position as approximately 56 19 24N, 007 07 00W. This plots in a general depth of 10 metres.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

(Classified as iron steamship, with cargo of coal and herring: date of loss cited as 29 October 1911). Ravensheugh: this vessel struck rock or a derelict, and sank three miles (8?) off Skerryvore Light. [Capt]. Daniels. (Built: 1881?).

Registration: Glasgow. Built 1870. 1781grt. Length: 79m. Beam: 10m.

(Location of loss cited as N56 22.0 W6 55.0).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The location assigned to this record is essentially tentative. Comparison with other wrecks recorded nearby suggests that the isolated rock in question may be Mackenzie's Rock, which is situated at NL 798 226 (N56 17.3 W7 10.5), 3nm SW of Skerryvore Lighthouse (NL82NW 1). This isolated rock peak dries to 2.2m above LWMOST.

Skerryvore Lighthouse (NL82NW 1) is at NL 8384 2629.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 28 February 2002.

HO chart 2722 (1989 edition).